Flu Updates

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Updates

January 10, 2013

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

We hope you’ve had a restful and rejuvenating winter break.  As you’re getting ready to return to campus for the start of the spring semester, we want to take a moment to address the steady rise of influenza cases that have been reported nationwide over the last few weeks.  Many news agencies have been reporting daily increases in the rates of documented flu cases from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and we are following suit to proactively protect our Stevenson University community. 

We are strongly encouraging all students (residents and commuters) and faculty and staff to receive a flu shot prior to returning to campus for classes next week.  Think you can’t fit getting a vaccine into your schedule? Actually, it’s more convenient than ever to get a flu vaccine. Most pharmacies, drugstores, and supermarkets offer walk-in clinics that are usually very quick and have convenient hours.  But the longer you wait, the more you increase your chances of getting the flu. The few minutes it will take you to get a flu vaccine are much shorter than the days you might have to take off from school and/or work if you get sick with the flu.  The influenza virus can typically lead to 7-10 days of missed school/work.

Contrary to urban legend, the flu vaccine cannot cause the flu.  Very mild flu-like symptoms after vaccination can mean that your body is responding to vaccination.  If you actually get the flu soon after vaccination, you may have been exposed to flu before getting vaccinated, or during the two-week period it takes the body to gain protection after being vaccinated.  Flu-like symptoms also can be the result of a non-influenza illness with similar symptoms like rhinovirus (common cold) or other viruses or bacteria that share flu symptoms.

Here are some reminders for staying healthy this flu season:

  1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you sneeze or cough.  Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
  2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth since germs spread this way.
  3. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or in your sleeve when you cough or sneeze.

For more information or with questions feel free to contact the Wellness Center at 443-352-4200 or visit the Center for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

Thank you for your cooperation.  Best wishes for a very successful semester.

Claire Moore
Vice President for Student Affairs
443-352-4306		 Linda Reymann, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President, Wellness Center
443-352-4200