H1N1 Influenza - E-mail to UMKC Faculty

August 31, 2009

To UMKC Faculty:
I am writing this email to keep you informed about what is being communicated to students concerning the H1N1 virus at UMKC.  The Provost Home Page has a link to the Student Affairs Student Health Information on Influenza H1N1:  Student Affairs and Student Health Information on Influenza/H1N1, and you can look for regular updates on the Provost’s Blog:  http://umkcprovost.blogspot.com/.

Steps for Sick Students
1.    If you have symptoms, call Student Health & Wellness (x6133) or your regular health care provider for an appointment, particularly if you are at high-risk for complications (for example, if you have a chronic illness).

2.    Contact your Instructors (the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management can assist):
    a.    Let them know you are ill and will not be in class.
    b.    Discuss with them how to arrange make-up of your missed coursework.
    c.    Make sure you are aware of the absence policy for each class, especially if you are required to
            provide documentation of your illness from your health care provider.

3.    Stay away from others:  stay in your residence hall room, stay at home, or arrange to have a family member pick you up and take you home.

4.    Primary treatment is rest, fluids, monitoring temperature, and using acetaminophen or ibuprofen for symptom relief.  Health professionals recommend drinking one or two cups of liquid (water, Gatorade, etc.) for every hour that you are awake.

5.    Please keep in mind that Tamiflu or other anti-viral medications are reserved for people who have a higher risk for complications (such as those with a chronic illness).

6.    Remain isolated until after you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours.

Information on flu vaccines:
•     Seasonal flu vaccines are usually shipped to the university in late September or early October; the Student Health Center has not been provided with a specific date at this time
•     The seasonal flu vaccine will be available to students this year for $10; normally the cost is $15 but the university will be subsidizing this with the student health fee to encourage more students to get this vaccination this year
•     The distribution of H1N1 vaccine will be controlled by the KCMO Health Department and a decision has not been made yet as to how many vaccines we will receive at UMKC
•     A request has been made to the KCMO Health Department for UMKC to receive some of the limited supply of the H1N1 vaccines
•     Any H1N1 vaccines that we may get will be provided at no cost to the student

As we may get updates on this, we will be sure to provide them to you for further distribution.
Gail Hackett, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost