Flu/H1N1 Information: :

Latest Updates

Frequently asked questions about H1N1 Influenza

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman’s Student Health Services will have a limited quantity of H1N1 vaccine available to students only on Thursday, Nov. 12.

The free vaccine, to be offered as an injection or in an intranasal form, will be dispensed on a first-come, first-served basis from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The vaccine will be available until the supply is depleted.

Students without any underlying health conditions can take either the nasal mist form or the injection. According to Sandra Adams of the Student Health Services office, the shot form of the vaccine is recommended for students with outstanding conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma or diabetes.

The medical staff has seen a slight increase in flu-like cases over the last week at Furman. As of Tuesday, Nov. 10, Furman has had 100 cases since school began in late August with most of them mild. There have been fewer than 10 with complications such as pneumonia.

To help with prevention initiatives, free sanitizing wipes and gels are available at the Student Health Services office.

To keep updated about the flu situation on campus, visit Furman’s H1N1 website. For more information on the vaccinations, contact the Student Health Services office at ext. 2180.

Furman Students Eligible to Receive H1N1 Vaccine At Greenville County Health Department

GREENVILLE, S.C.—The Greenville County Health Department will be offering free H1N1 vaccinations during several dates in November, and Furman students are eligible to receive the vaccine.

The Health Department will be offering both the intranasal and injection forms of the H1N1 vaccines on the following dates until supplies are depleted: Saturday, Nov 7; Wednesday Nov. 11; Saturday, Nov. 21; and Saturday, Nov. 28th.

Those eligible to receive the vaccine are pregnant women and people between the ages of 2-24.

“The H1N1 vaccine will also be available at Furman at some point this fall, but we’re not sure when that will be,” said Sandra Adams of the Student Health Services office. “So we wanted to be sure our students were aware of this opportunity at the Greenville County Health Department.”

In addition to distributing the H1N1 vaccine inside the clinic, Adams said that nurses will be administering the vaccine to people in their cars to speed up the process.

The Greenville County Health Department is located at 200 University Ridge in Greenville County Square. For more information, call 282-4100.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman’s Student Health Services will have a limited number of HIN1 vaccinations available for students on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The vaccinations, in the form of a nasal mist, will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at no charge. The vaccine will be available until the supply is depleted.

The vaccinations are available only to students, who must not have any underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma or diabetes. Additional H1N1 vaccinations, in shot form, will be available later this fall.

For more information about the vaccinations, contact the Student Health Services office at 2180. More information about the nasal spray vaccine is available here.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—The Student Health Services office reports that more than 600 Furman students have received their seasonal flu vaccinations with the official flu season just getting under way.

Student Health officials said they continue to see a moderate number of flu-like cases, although the number of cases is beginning to increase as the flu season progresses. The office is seeing eight to 10 cases per week. A month ago, the number was four to five per week.

The cases also continue to be mild and the students are recovering quickly, according to Connie Carson, vice president for the Division of Student Life at Furman.

Immunization clinics for seasonal flu have been held on campus. Furman expects to have H1N1 shots available in the next few weeks. However, the exact date of the shipment isn’t known.

None of the cases at Furman has been confirmed as the H1N1 strain of the virus because of the way the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) does follow-up testing, concentrating on hospitalized patients.

The Furman cases include students with Type A influenza and normal flu symptoms such as a cough and high fever.

Free sanitizing hand gels and wipes are available to students, faculty and staff at the Student Health Services office.

Any student experiencing flu symptoms should go to the Student Health Services office. Students, faculty and staff also can visit Furman’s H1N1 website for a list of symptoms and for updates on the flu situation on campus.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman University continues to experience a moderate number of flu-like cases on campus, according to the university’s Student Health Services office.

“It’s a good number of cases, but it’s pretty mild at this point,” said Mary Haselden, director of Student Health Services.

None of the cases has been confirmed as the H1N1 strain of the virus because of the way the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) does follow-up testing, concentrating on hospitalized patients.

The cases at Furman include students with Type A influenza and normal flu symptoms such as a cough and high fever.

“At Furman, we have a good plan in place, and all the recommendations are in place per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines,” Haselden said.

Students, faculty and staff can continue to pick up free sanitizing hand gels and wipes at the Student Health Services office.

Haselden said that the next flu immunization clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14. Students can receive seasonal flu shots, and possibly by that time, H1N1 shots will be available at Furman. The H1N1 vaccine currently is in production and could be administered to select groups, such as those most at risk, in the coming weeks.

Earlier this week, Furman personnel met with officials from schools such as Wofford College, Presbyterian College and North Greenville University and compared notes. The schools are part of the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities consortium, which includes 20 private institutions serving more than 33,000 students.

Asked about the anxiety level at the meeting, Haselden said, “I wouldn’t say it was high. Most colleges and universities are in a watchful/waiting period. Most have had flu cases, but most of the cases we’re seeing at this point are mild. We’re kind of waiting to see when the flu season actually gets here and how things are going to progress. But right now everything is OK.”

Any student experiencing flu symptoms should go to the Student Health Services office. Students, faculty and staff also can visit Furman’s H1N1 website for updates on the flu situation on campus.

HAND GELS, WIPES AVAILABLE IN HEALTH SERVICES OFFICE (UPDATED 9-16-09)

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman University faculty, staff and students can pick up sanitizing hand gels and wipes at the Student Health Services office this Thursday and Friday, Sept. 17 and 18, from 2-4 p.m.

Mary Haselden, director of Student Health Services at Furman, said that individual hand sanitizers will be available to students. Larger sizes of the hand gels and wipes will be available to faculty and staff who want to disinfect classrooms and office areas.

Haselden said the sanitizing products can also be picked up next week as long as supplies are available.
To keep updated about the flu situation on campus, visit Furman’s H1N1 website.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman had one new case of suspected flu reported over the weekend, and university health officials said the number of cases at the university continue to be both sporadic and mild.

As of Monday, Sept. 14, the Student Health Services office had seen a total of 18 flu-like cases since school started. Six of the students tested positive for Type A influenza, while the others exhibited normal flu symptoms, including a cough and high fever.

None of the cases have been confirmed as the H1N1 strain of the virus since the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is not conducting follow-up testing in the Upstate area.

“We continue to be very fortunate in that we haven’t seen a great number of flu cases on campus, and those we have seen have been mild,” said Mary Haselden, director of Student Health Services. “We’re treating each case the same, and we’re isolating those students who report flu symptoms so they don’t come in contact with other members of the campus community.”

Haselden said that more than 500 students came to the infirmary on Friday, Sept. 11 to receive seasonal flu shots. The next flu immunization clinic is scheduled for Oct. 14, and Haselden said the H1N1 shot could be available then.

“We have no control over when the H1N1 vaccine will be here,” she said, “but we are expecting it to be available in October.”

Haselden said that the university’s primary focus continues to be on prevention. Free sanitizing wipes are currently available at the Student Health Services office, and individual hand sanitizers will also be available soon.

“Hand washing and flu vaccines are the most important ways people can protect themselves,” she said. “Students should also avoid contact with anybody showing signs of illness, especially if they are running a fever.”

Any students experiencing flu symptoms should go to the Student Health Services office. To keep updated about the flu situation on campus, visit Furman’s H1N1 website.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—According to the Student Health Services office at Furman, the university is continuing to see a moderate number of flu-like cases occurring on campus. All the cases thus far have been mild.

Mary Haselden, director of Student Health Services, said seven students have reported to the infirmary this week with flu-like symptoms, two of whom tested positive for Type A influenza. None of the cases have been confirmed as the H1N1 strain of the virus since the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is not conducting follow-up testing in the Upstate area.

That brings the total number of flu-like cases since school started in late August to 10. Of that number, four have tested positive for Type A influenza.

“We’re seeing one to two new cases of possible flu each day,” Haselden says. “We’re simply treating each case as we would the regular flu, and are asking that students who have a fever remain isolated on campus until they’ve been without a fever for 24 hours. All of those who've been treated in the infirmary have had fairly mild cases and are recovering quickly.”

Haselden said it’s still very important for the campus community to practice good hygiene, which includes frequent hand washing and sanitizing. Students should also avoid contact with those who show signs of illness, especially those running a fever.

Any students experiencing flu symptoms should go to the Student Health Services office. To keep updated about the flu situation on campus, visit Furman’s H1N1 website.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman’s Student Health Services office has reported that two students have tested positive for Type A influenza, which isn’t necessarily the H1N1 strain of the virus.

“H1N1 is a strain of Type A influenza, but a second confirmatory test is needed for positive identification,” said Mary Haselden, director of Student Health Services. “The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is the only agency doing follow-up testing and its H1N1 testing is currently limited to hospitalized patients.”

Haselden described the students’ flu as “mild” and said the situation is being appropriately monitored. “At this point, the severity of seasonal flu and H1NI is the same,” she said. “There is no difference in how we treat them.”

University officials said that flu shots for regular seasonal flu will be available to students on Sept. 11. Although the university has no control over when the H1N1 vaccine will be distributed, it will likely be available on campus in November. The university will also soon be offering free wipes and hand sanitizers through the Student Health Services office.

In the meantime, the university is encouraging the campus community and visitors to practice good hygiene, which includes frequent hand washing and sanitizing, and avoiding contact with those who show signs of illness, especially those running a fever.

Any students experiencing flu symptoms should go to the Student Health Services office. To keep updated about the flu situation on campus, visit Furman’s H1N1 website.

Furman’s Crisis Management Team has been meeting regularly since the first cases of swine flu were reported in South Carolina. The group will continue to monitor the situation closely--in consultation with local, state and federal health authorities--and will keep the University community updated.

• Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

• Take everyday actions to stay healthy. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

• Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

• Several types of antiviral drugs — Tamiflu and Relenza — seem to work for H1N1 flu when taken shortly after symptoms begin.

• Symptoms typically show up 48 to 72 hours after a person has come into contact with the virus and include sudden onset of weakness, muscle aches, cough, sore throat or runny nose with fever. You may not experience all of these symptoms.

• If you start to have symptoms of the flu, call your healthcare provider or your local public health department for guidance.

Remember, a "positive" flu test does not necessarily mean that you have this new strain, H1N1. It may just mean you have a more common type of flu virus. The results you get in your doctor's office will not tell you if you have the H1N1 flu.

Pandemic flu occurs when a new influenza virus appears for which most people do not have immunity, when it spreads easily between people worldwide and when it may cause serious illness. On June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a declaration that novel H1N1 influenza has spread around the world to the point where it is now a pandemic. However, the most important point to remember is that at this time, even though the virus has spread quickly, most people who have gotten novel H1N1 influenza have had mild illness. Unfortunately, some people in the United States and in other countries have developed more severe illness and some have died. It's uncertain at this time how serious or severe novel H1N1 influenza pandemic will be in terms of how many people infected will develop serious complications from novel H1N1 influenza.

Novel H1N1 influenza is a new type A influenza (flu) virus that was first seen in the United States in April 2009. Health officials initially called it "swine flu" because it looked similar to some flu viruses that pigs get. However, further study showed that novel H1N1 influenza contains a combination of flu virus genes that circulate in some pigs, birds and humans. Novel H1N1 influenza flu is not the same as swine flu. As health officials learn more about this flu virus, they continue to identify it more accurately. As a result, you may hear or see it called by different names, including "novel H1N1 influenza," "novel H1N1 influenza (flu) virus," "H1N1 influenza (flu) virus" or "novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection." These are all describing this same, newly seen influenza virus in people. The word "novel" indicates that this is a new influenza virus with a gene combination that has not been seen before.

No. Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a different influenza virus. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it's possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person.

No. Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by different flu viruses than novel H1N1 influenza. Seasonal flu occurs every year, most often during the winter and early spring. Seasonal flu most severely affects people 65 years and older, while novel H1N1 influenza is currently being seen in children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 24 years old. In addition, a new vaccine is available every year to help prevent seasonal flu.

Is novel H1N1 influenza the same as the bird flu (avian flu) that has been in the news in recent years?

No. Even though novel H1N1 influenza contains avian (bird) genes, it is not the same. There are many different types of influenza viruses. The bird flu virus that has been watched closely is categorized as influenza A (H5N1), and is transmitted primarily among birds. Bird flu (avian flu) has not been found in the United States.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that novel H1N1 influenza spreads from person to person, in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else's mouth or nose) before washing their hands. Health officials are currently studying how easily novel H1N1 influenza spreads between people.

Because this virus is new, it is not known how long it takes symptoms to appear after exposure. It could range from 1-7 days, and is more likely 1-4 days.

The symptoms of novel H1N1 influenza in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include:

How long can people infected with the virus that causes novel H1N1 influenza spread it to others?

People with novel H1N1 influenza may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What is the best way to prevent the spread of novel H1N1 influenza in a college setting?

The best way to reduce the spread of influenza in schools continues to be the early identification of ill students, faculty or staff, having ill persons stay home from school for 7 days or until 24 hours after symptoms resolve (whichever is longer) and having all students, faculty and staff practice good respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.

How long should students, faculty or staff with flu-like symptoms or confirmed novel H1N1 influenza stay out of school?

Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (ILI) should stay home and not attend school or go into the community, except to seek medical care, for at least 7 days, even if they feel better sooner. Note: Some children and adults who have had the flu may experience a lasting cough after all other symptoms end. If 7 days have passed, they no longer have a fever, and otherwise feel well for at least 24 hours, they may return to school, even if they have this residual (leftover) cough.

What should students, faculty or staff do if they are still sick with flu-like symptoms or confirmed novel H1N1 influenza after 7 days? How much longer should they stay home from school?

Students, faculty or staff who are still sick 7 days after they become ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after symptoms have ended. Note: Some children and adults who have had the flu may experience a lasting cough after all other symptoms end. If 7 days have passed, they no longer have a fever, and otherwise feel well for at least 24 hours, they may return to class, even if they have this residual (leftover) cough.

There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these steps to protect your health:

While the university has scheduled flu vaccination clinics for October 14 (students) and October 20 (faculty and staff), it is unlikely that the H1N1 vaccination will be widely available at that time. The university will administer the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.

If you are at high risk of developing complications if you develop novel H1N1 influenza, consider staying away from public gatherings in communities where there are reported cases of novel H1N1 influenza. People at high risk of complications include those with certain chronic medical conditions, children less than 5 years old, persons 65 years or older, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women. Contact your health care provider if you have questions.

If you start to have symptoms of the flu, call your healthcare provider or Furman Health Services <294.2180> for guidance. Remember, a "positive" flu test does not necessarily mean that you have this new strain, H1N1. It may just mean you have a more common type of flu virus. The results you get in your doctor's office will not tell you if you have the H1N1 flu.

Sources:
Center for Disease Control
New York State Health Department
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Furman Health Services

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