• NEW: Academic Policy on Exams
• UPDATED: H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza Vaccines
• Academic Issues
• General

NEW: ACADEMIC POLICY ON EXAMS 

Q: What should I do if I am unable to take an exam? 

A: Students with flu-like symptoms should stay at home until these symptoms are resolved rather than coming to class; and they should notify their instructors by email or phone if absent with flu-like symptoms. If absent for an examination, students must also provide a note from a health care professional about their flu-like symptoms. In addition, students whose flu-like symptoms extend beyond the normal period of contagion (7-10 days) should schedule an appointment with the GW Student Health Service or another physician for professional attention. Instructors can expect a formal note verifying this type of condition.

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UPDATED: H1N1 AND SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINES

Q: What does it mean that President Obama has declared H1N1 a national emergency?

A: This is action by the Obama Administration to prepare for and respond to H1N1 cases across the country.  According to the White House release, President Obama “declared a national emergency in order to be prepared in the event of a rapid increase in illness across the Nation that may overburden health care resources.  This declaration will allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services, if necessary, to temporarily waive certain standard Federal requirements in order to enable U.S. health care facilities to implement emergency operations plans to deal with the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in the United States.”

Q: Will H1N1 vaccines be made available to the GW community?

A: The University has registered with the DC Department of Health to be a center of mass distribution for the GW community.  The Federal Government is distributing the vaccine through local government agencies through health providers.  The University is currently awaiting word from the DC Department of Health on when and in what quantity it will receive vaccines and updated information will be distributed as soon as possible.  Students up to 24 years old may also obtain H1N1 vaccines at free clinics through the DC Department of Health.  For more information, visit the DC Department of Health Web site at http://doh.dc.gov
  
Q: Where can I get more information about the H1N1 vaccine?

A: GW has posted a fact sheet on the H1N1 vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with detailed information about the vaccine.  The fact sheet can be viewed at: http://www.campusadvisories.gwu.edu/PDFs/h1n1_vaccine_info.pdf

Q: Is there any update on season influenza vaccine availability?

A: The University like many institutions and health care providers is being affected by a delay in seasonal influenza vaccine deliveries occurring across the country.  The University is awaiting a delivery of additional vaccine placed this summer in anticipation of greater than usual demand for seasonal flu shots.  To date, the university has experienced a strong response to the availability of free seasonal flu vaccines, distributing 4500 vaccinations.  This far exceeds the 1800 vaccines administered last year.  The University will schedule additional seasonal flu clinics when the vaccine is received. 

Q: If I get an H1N1 influenza shot do I still need a seasonal flu shot?

A: Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends receiving both vaccinations. 

Q: If I think I already had H1N1, should I still get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available?

A: Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that everyone get the H1N1 vaccine.

Q:  What do I need to do to get the seasonal flu shot?
 
A:  The GW Student Health Service is holding free seasonal flu shot clinics.  For a list of clinic dates, visit http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu/viewarchived.cfm?id=442
 
Q:  Do I need to get the seasonal flu shot in order to be eligible to get the H1N1 vaccine?
 
The CDC is recommending both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.  However, neither vaccine is  required to be eligible for the other.

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ACADEMIC ISSUES

Q: If I have flu-like symptoms, should I go to class?

A: No, check in with Student Health Services and then stay in your room until you are free from symptoms and you are fever free for 24 hours.

Q: Should I contact my professors that I have flu-like symptoms?

A: Yes, either email or phone them right away to tell them why you will be missing their classes. You do not need a note from either a physician or dean's office that you will not be in class.

Q: How will I make up the class work that I miss?

A: Professors will let you know how to do this. Many faculty members have their courses on Blackboard so check there to find out what you missed in  class. Also, you may contact another student in the course to provide you with notes and assignments. 

Q: Will I be penalized for missing a class because I am sick?

A: No, all professors have been asked to be flexible in dealing with absences related to influenza during the fall semester. However, you must complete any assignment that you missed while you are ill.

Q: If I need to submit an assignment while sick, what should I do?

A: Either send it by email or have a friend deliver it for you.

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GENERAL

 Q: What is the University doing to prepare and plan?

A: The University has convened a campus-wide task force, made up of staff from across the University, including physicians from our medical center and public health professionals, to coordinate the University’s efforts.  GW is posting information regarding flu prevention and preparations on the Campus Advisories web site at http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu/.  The University is placing hand sanitizer and H1N1 prevention information in residence hall lobbies and other common areas where students congregate.  In addition, preparations are being made to expand use of Blackboard to enable students who are sick and cannot attend class to stay in their rooms and have access to class materials. 

Q: What will the University do to clean public areas that may be exposed to the influenza virus?

A: The University will focus particular attention on locations on its campuses where students gather and devote extra resources to cleaning public, high volume locations. 

Q: Will the University remain open if cases of the flu occur?

A: The CDC is not recommending closure of academic institutions, and the University plans to be open and operating.

Q: What are the symptoms of H1N1 influenza?

A: The signs and symptoms are similar to regular seasonal human influenza and include:

• Fever over 100 degrees with cough and/or sore throat\

You may also have:

• Body aches/ Headaches
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Occasionally Diarrhea and Vomiting

Q: How is the virus spread?

A: The virus is spread through close contact, person to person, through coughing, sneezing, and respiratory secretions.

Q: How long is the flu contagious?

A: The flu is contagious one to two days before symptoms appear and one day after fever resolves without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Q:  Who is at highest risk for H1N1 flu?

A:  According to the CDC, the groups of people at highest risk for severe illness from H1N1 infection are thought to include:

• Pregnant women
• Adults and children who have asthma, chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes
• Adults and children who are immunosuppressed
• Children younger than five years old
• Children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye’s syndrome after influenza virus infection
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

Q:  How do I know if someone has H1N1 flu or seasonal flu?

A:  If someone is sick with flu-like symptoms, it will be very hard to distinguish whether they have H1N1 flu or seasonal flu.  Public health officials and medical authorities will not be recommending laboratory tests.  Anyone who has the symptoms of flu-like illness should stay home and not go to class or work. 

Q:  What can be done to prevent H1N1 influenza?

A:  The following steps can help reduce the likelihood of transmission:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water are not available, because the virus lives for several hours on surfaces.
• Do not share drinking or eating utensils.
• Avoid close personal contact with people who exhibit flu-like symptoms. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• When sneezing or coughing cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or with a tissue and discard the tissue in the trash. 
• Get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods and manage stress.
• If you notice symptoms, do not go to class or work, stay in your room, avoid close personal contact with people as much as possible for at least 24 hours after fever subsides (without the use of fever-reducing medications), and call your health care provider for advice. 

Q:  What if my roommate or someone in my residence hall has or develops the flu?

A:  The prevention recommendations stay the same.  The influenza virus is spread through close contact, person to person, through coughing, sneezing, and respiratory secretions.  It lives for several hours on surfaces.  You can protect yourself by washing your hands with soap and warm water frequently or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water are not available, avoiding close personal contact with people who are sick or have flu-like symptoms and avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Consider keeping household cleansers like cleaning wipes in your room to keep surfaces clean.  If a roommate is experiencing flu-like symptoms, consider rearranging furniture to create social distance.  Ideally, there should be at least six feet between people at most times according to the CDC.    

Q:  Is any special cleaning needed if I or my roommate has or develops the flu?

A:  No, soap and water for washing hands and typical household cleansers for cleaning surfaces are recommended by the CDC.  Consider keeping household cleansers like cleaning wipes in your room to keep surfaces clean and wash hands frequently.  Here are other recommendations from the CDC for household cleaning, laundry and waste disposal:

• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first. 
• Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting. Avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water right after handling dirty laundry. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Eating and drinking utensils should not be shared and should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

Q:  What should I do if I experience flu symptoms?

A:   Students who have flu-like symptoms, should not attend class, stay in their room, avoid close personal contact with people as much as possible, and call the GW Student Health Service at 202-994-6827 for advice. 

Faculty and staff who have flu-like symptoms should not come to work, stay home until they are no longer contagious, contact their health care provider for advice, and notify their supervisor that they will be unable to come to work.

Q:  Where can I get help if I think I have the flu?

A:  Students can call for advice from the GW Student Health Service at 202-994-6827 or their health care provider.  After an initial phone evaluation, a visit to the Student Health Service may be recommended. 

Faculty and staff should contact their personal health care provider to get advice.

Q:  What treatment is given for H1N1 flu?

A:  The CDC is currently advising that most people with H1N1 influenza recover completely in seven days.  In most cases, antiviral treatment, such as with Tamiflu, is not recommended.  Antiviral medication can be given to treat those severely ill or with certain chronic medical conditions.

Q: Can I get the flu more than once during this academic year?

A. Yes, since the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu are different viruses, it is possible to get each type of flu at different times.  Vaccination for one type of flu will not prevent you from getting the other type of flu.

Q:  Will students who develop the flu be quarantined?

A:  The CDC is not recommending quarantine for cases of H1N1.  Rather, those with flu symptoms are encouraged to avoid close contact with others, stay in their room and keep away from others as much as possible for at least 24 hours after fever subsides (without the use of fever-reducing medications) except to get medical care or for other necessities, and cover their mouth and nose with tissue or a mask if they have to leave their room.  

Q:  Will the University move students who exhibit flu symptoms?

A:  The CDC has found that most cases of H1N1 are contagious one to two days before symptoms appear.  Since roommates will have already been exposed, moving students with flu symptoms to a new living space would not provide much protection for their roommates.  For anyone who develops flu symptoms, the CDC is recommending avoiding close personal contact with others and staying in their room until at least 24 hours after fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medications. The University does not have facilities to relocate students with flu.

Q:  Will the University offer flu vaccines?

A:  The University will offer free seasonal flu vaccine this Fall for students, faculty, and staff, and the CDC strongly recommends this vaccination.  Information about seasonal flu vaccine distribution on the University’s campuses will be distributed widely this Fall and vaccination clinics will be held in the Marvin Center and other convenient University locations.  A vaccine for H1N1 flu is under development, and the CDC advises that any H1N1 vaccine would be for use in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine.  The University will follow the guidelines of the CDC for any H1N1 vaccine that becomes available.

Q:  Are face masks recommended? 

A:  The CDC is not recommending face masks for prevention in community and home settings or for workers in non-health care occupational settings.  Those who choose to use face masks do so at their own discretion.  Face masks help stop droplets from being spread by the person wearing them, so the use of surgical masks for  persons with flu is an option to cover their mouth and nose in the event they have to leave their room to seek medical care or other necessities.

Q:  How and where can I get masks?

A:  Students who visit the Student Health Service and are diagnosed as having flu will receive a supply of the appropriate masks.

Q.  Will you identify people who have been diagnosed with the flu so others will be able to avoid them?

A:  Since an individual’s health information is private by federal law, the University cannot release such information about any student or employee.

Q:  Where can I get additional information?

Please visit Campus Advisories for the latest information at http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu/

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