Flu Preparedness
Although the H1N1 pandemic is past its peak, WSU continues to monitor the situation on all campuses. We are in close contact with federal, state, and local public health officials to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. It is our goal to keep students, faculty and staff healthy. We need your support to accomplish this.
What you can do to protect yourself and others:
As with any contagious disease that spreads through the respiratory system, the Health District recommends the following precautions:
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing. Regularly clean surfaces in your office that are touched often. Pay close attention to your desk top and phone.
- Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Discard the tissue after it has been used, then wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve/elbow—not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A number of people who have been infected with the H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Flu can lead to bronchitis and pneumonia, and can be life-threatening. Talk to your doctor about antiviral prescriptions to treat the flu; they should be started in the first 2 days of illness. Antibiotics don’t work on viral infections or colds.
- Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius or greater) or signs of a fever (chills, feel warm to the touch, flushed appearance or sweating). Limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Don't go to class or work. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids, and avoid alcohol and tobacco.
- Talk with your health-care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. If you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. For information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
Additional resources:
Online
- WSU H1N1 Flu Guidance
- WSU Alert - Pullman Campus
- WSU Health & Wellness Flu Information
- Spokane Regional Health District
- Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization
24-hour information lines
- CDC (live): 1-800-CDC-INFO/1-800-232-4636
- Washington State Department of Health (recorded): 1-888-703-4364