SU Abroad Message on H1N1

September 11, 2009

Dear Members of the SU Abroad Community,

In our continuing efforts to provide for the health and safety of our students, SU Abroad staff in Syracuse and abroad have been closely monitoring developments with the H1N1 influenza (originally called “swine flu”). The occurrence and severity of H1N1 continues to evolve around the globe. At each of our centers abroad we are providing guidance to students on how to be healthy and reduce risks of coming down with the flu.

1. Q. How can students prevent contracting or spreading H1N1?
A. International SOS recommends the follow advice on staying healthy:
“Simple hygiene measures will go a long way to preventing all kinds of infectious respiratory illnesses, including H1N1 flu and regular flu. Focus on frequent hand washing.”

• Wash your hands frequently. Carry a hand sanitizer, and use it when soap and water aren’t readily available.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Do not have contact with people who are obviously sick.
• Maintain good general health. If you have a chronic medical condition, ensure it is under the best possible control. Seek advice from a doctor.
• Ensure all routine vaccinations are up-to-date.
• People who have not had an annual flu vaccination should consider having one to prevent regular seasonal flu.
• In areas where flu is circulating in the community, avoid crowds as much as possible. If you cannot avoid crowds, consider wearing a face mask.

If you are sick, help protect others from your infection:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a mask or a tissue.
• Stay at home if you are unwell. Limit your contact with others as much as possible.
• If you seek medical attention, call before you go to a healthcare facility. Tell them you have flu symptoms. This allows them to protect other patients and the staff before you arrive.”

2. Q. What should students do if they get sick?
A. Symptoms of H1N1 are similar to that of the seasonal flu: fever, headache, cough, runny nose, sore throat, lethargy, loss of appetite and body aches. Students with flu like symptoms should contact their local SU Abroad program staff and tell them of their health concerns. In general we are following Syracuse University health officials recommendations, telling students to stay in their host families, apartments, or residence hall rooms if they experience these symptoms: “Persons who are ill with flu-like symptoms will typically be advised to stay at home or in their residence hall room until 24 hours after fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) symptoms abate without the aid of fever-reducing medications.”

3. Q. Will students abroad have access to the H1N1 vaccine?
A. It is still unclear when the H1N1 vaccine will be available globally. SU Abroad is working with International SOS and our respective centers abroad to monitor when the vaccine will be available in the cities where our programs are located. SU Abroad students will be notified when vaccine is available in their host country, including details of the country’s distribution plan. SU Abroad also recommends students and parents visit the International SOS web site for updates on vaccine availability in their country of study.

4. Q. How can students stay informed?
A. Students should keep current on the news in their country of study and also monitor their email for updates from their SU Abroad center. Other helpful resources include:

International SOS – Pandemic Preparedness Web Site
Department of State – Travel Advisories Web Site
Syracuse University – Preparing for the Flu Web Site

If students have questions regarding H1N1, we encourage them to contact their local SU Abroad center. Parents, partner institutions, and others in the United States with questions should contact Carrie Grogan Abbott, assistant director, at cgabbott@syr.edu.

Sincerely,

SU Abroad