Update on campus preparedness for H1N1

Midway through the fall semester, some Grinnell College students have been diagnosed with the H1N1 strain of the Influenza A virus.

Vaccination clinics for H1N1 have been scheduled in Poweshiek County.

• For H1N1: Grinnell Regional Public Health has scheduled clinics to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to at risk individuals. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that the vaccine be made available on a priority basis. College-age students are among the recommended priority groups. An authorization form is required to receive the vaccine at the Poweshiek County clinic. Students may receive authorization through the Student Health Center, faculty and staff should visit their private medical care provider.
• For seasonal influenza: As in previous academic years, the College provided hundreds of seasonal influenza vaccines to members of the Grinnell College community. According to the CDC, the seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to provide protection against H1N1. Additional influenza shots are available through Grinnell Regional Public Heath.

Grinnell College is working closely with local, state, and national health authorities to plan its response to the spread of the influenza A (H1N1) virus and to monitor the campus plan for needed changes. The College’s campus preparedness plan is available from the Campus Safety and Security website and is based on guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The detailed plan, which includes isolation procedures in the event of confirmed cases, will be activated depending on the level of severity and recommendation by the CDC. In the meantime, classes will be held as scheduled, unless otherwise recommended by the CDC. Updates will be posted as needed on the College website and/or sent via e-mail.

The CDC recommends these individual health practices to reduce the risk of infection:

• 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 hand cleaners are also effective. Hand sanitizer is available at the entrance to Marketplace and in The Spencer Grill.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person, through coughing or sneezing by infected people.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.

Grinnell students with flu-like symptoms should contact the College's Health Center, 641-269-3230. Beginning August 24, the Health Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. After hours and on weekends, students with a medical emergency should call Security at 641-269-4600 to contact the residence life coordinator on call, or call 911.

Students preparing to travel abroad or returning from off-campus study should refer to guidelines posted by the U.S. State Department and the CDC.

Employees with flu-like symptoms should contact their local physician or Grinnell Regional Medical Center at 641-236-2032.

Vaccines
Grinnell will participate in state- and county-level response activities related to vaccine distribution.

• For seasonal influenza: As in previous academic years, the College will make seasonal influenza vaccines available to members of the Grinnell College community (possibly as early as September). For students, the inoculation is covered by the student health fee; for faculty and staff, inoculations will be subsidized but may require a nominal fee. According to the CDC, the seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to provide protection against H1N1.
• For H1N1: The two-part vaccine for H1N1 is expected to be available in limited supply. The CDC recommends that the vaccine be made available on a priority basis. College-age students are among the recommended priority groups. In Iowa, the limited vaccine supplies are expected to be distributed through the public health system and provided to pre-determined priority groups in accordance with the CDC guidelines. The campus community will be notified when the two-part vaccine becomes available in Poweshiek County.

Questions should be referred to:

• Karen Cochran, director of health services, 641-269-3230, or
• Steve Briscoe, director of security, 641-269-4600.