channel 13 just did a teaser that there has been a confirmed case of swine flu on campus.

An email was sent to the students yesterday about it. Hold on and ill post it.

nvm right now. Ill post it later since im having trouble accessing outlook for u of m mail.

August 26, 2009

All University of Memphis Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Today the University of Memphis Office of Student Health Services (SHS) identified the first suspected case of H1N1 (swine) flu at the U of M campus. Two students, neither of whom were residing on campus, reported to SHS complaining of flu-like symptoms. Tests conducted by the medical staff at SHS indicated that one student has some type of flu, and another student has a flu-like infection, although the tests did not identify it as flu. As a result, the University has activated its emergency response plan to deal with H1N1. The University is taking steps, based on the advice of the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the Tennessee and Shelby County public health officials, to minimize the spread of H1N1 (swine) flu.

U of M health officials highly recommend flu shots for seasonal flu. The University will provide on-campus inoculation for seasonal flu beginning September 22. The cost is $18. A schedule of dates, times and places for the shots is available online at http://saweb.memphis.edu/health/immuniza...ushots.htm

The University is also planning to provide inoculations for the H1N1 (swine) flu to students, faculty, and staff at the University of Memphis when the vaccine becomes available. The University has already pre-registered to receive the vaccine; however, we may receive only limited supplies of the vaccine, and the priority for dispensing it to groups at varying levels of risk from the H1N1 virus will be decided by federal and state health officials. As of now, we do not know when it will arrive; however, as soon as we do know, we will notify the campus about the places and times for on-campus inoculation.


Prevention is the best ‘cure.’ Here are some of the best ways to stay healthy; we urge you to adopt these precautions:

· Routinely and frequently wipe shared surfaces, e.g., doorknobs, stair handrails, telephone handsets, computer keyboards, etc., with alcohol-based germicidal cleaners.

· Keep hand sanitizer dispensers or towelettes available for use in classrooms and areas of frequent interaction among people, e.g., receptionists’ desks, computer labs, etc.

· Cover your mouth and nose whenever you cough or sneeze. Preferably, cough or sneeze “into your sleeve or elbow.” If you use a tissue, throw it away after you’ve used it once.

· Wash your hands often, especially after you cough or sneeze; use soap and water. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective in killing flu germs.

· Avoid shaking hands with other people whenever possible.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread easily that way.

· Get the seasonal flu shot; it will be available on campus for $18. A schedule is posted at: http://saweb.memphis.edu/health/immuniza...ushots.htm

· Try to avoid close contact with sick people. The recommended distance between people is a minimum of 6 feet. Flu symptoms can include fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

If YOU are sick, stay home and stay away from others. When you have been fever-free – without the use of fever-reducing medication – for 24 hours, then you may return to school or work.

Student Health Service’s blog – http://www.uofmshs.typepad.com – already carries recommendations for protecting yourself from the flu. Student Health Services will also use Twitter to send up-to-the-minute messages regarding the H1N1 (swine) flu; the Twitter URL is http://www.twitter.com/uofmshs

The University has also developed a Web page specifically about the H1N1 (swine) flu and our efforts to combat it on campus. That URL is: http://www.memphis.edu/swineflu.php

If you have specific questions not answered in this letter, please contact the University’s Student Health Services by phone at 901-678-2287, or visit the SHS Web site, http://saweb.memphis.edu/health


Shirley C. Raines
President

that doesnt say that anyone has h1n1 at all.

Quote:Tests conducted by the medical staff at SHS indicated that one student has some type of flu, and another student has a flu-like infection, although the tests did not identify it as flu

but let the hysteria begin i suppose.

The H1N1 flu is going around a good bit. It is just the flu, 4 or 5 days of feeling lousy and then back to class. I guess with schools getting back started it has showed up. My kids high school has a bunch of people out with the flu. Hopefully it will slow down.

I'm bathing in Purell just to be safe.

we were bound to get it after next Sunday anyway. Ole Miss is bringing it up with them

Its amazing that this is poping up again as school starts! No cases during the summer?

I know theyve been battling an outbreak of it at UTK, then rush week happened and now a ton of kids have it, fortunately it appears to be a mild strain of it

this "epidemic" scare is out of hand. We have a policy at work that if we get a temp of 101.5 or higher, we have to go home for 3 days and then see a doctor to make sure we don't have H1N1.

I'm pretty sure I was the flu-like infection. It's cool I got mentioned in a mass e-mail.

(08-27-2009 09:04 PM)MemTigerFan Wrote:  this "epidemic" scare is out of hand. We have a policy at work that if we get a temp of 101.5 or higher, we have to go home for 3 days and then see a doctor to make sure we don't have H1N1.

We were told not to come in even if we just have the sniffles....

Yet another fine example of staged mass panic over a virus that is really not anymore dangerous than many other things we all deal with every day...simply amazing, but definitely not surprising.

(08-27-2009 07:03 PM)klg316 Wrote:  I'm bathing in Purell just to be safe.

Yummmmmmmmmmmm



.

Today in biology, the professor asked everyone if they would take the vaccine if offered.

The girls around me said, "yes"

Now, I'm not typically a freak about little things like this, but I have a hard time putting something in my bloodstream that rushed into production and contains mercury. Frankly, H1N1 is probably not going to kill me and I probably won't be taking the vaccine or the flu vaccine.

I work in the Infectious Diseases department here at Le Bonheur and this morning, we had a 'press conference' about the upcoming flu season and most importantly, the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. This segment was filmed by three of the major news stations here in Memphis and should air sometime tonight or later on in the week. It was conducted by the head of my department (Dr. Keith English) and is structured to inform the common citizen on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. I encourage all to visit the Le Bonheur website and view the aforementioned press conference on the upcoming flu season

A couple of key points that were discussed:

1) If your child receives flu like symptoms, have him examined by your pediatrician or family doctor before contacting Le Bonheur or other hospital.
2) The H1N1 virus is not life threatening if treated so theres no need for panic.
3) Its most commonly found in children due to the lack of antigen response that develops with exposure in adults.
4) The vaccine should become available in mid-October and is very safe.
5) Prophylactic (preventative) treatment has been proven as a successful way to combat the virus. However, this is not necessary unless there are known cases that you might come in contact with such as a coworker, child, or workplace that has large volume and direct contact.

If you have any more questions Ill be glad to answer in this thread from what I know. Two medicines that are recommended for treatment are oseltamivir (Tamivir®) and zenamavir (Relenza®). Oseltamivir has been approved to use in children ages 12 months and older although it has been authorized to use as early as neonates due to the mitigating circumstances.

My recommendations:
Take the vaccine if available if part of your yearly routine
Observe outbreaks in workplace or schools for children
Take normal precautionary measures for disease control (washing hands, hand sanitizer, etc.)

I hope this was helpful

~Brett

(08-31-2009 01:45 PM)homefry20 Wrote:  I work in the Infectious Diseases department here at Le Bonheur and this morning, we had a 'press conference' about the upcoming flu season and most importantly, the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. This segment was filmed by three of the major news stations here in Memphis and should air sometime tonight or later on in the week. It was conducted by the head of my department (Dr. Keith English) and is structured to inform the common citizen on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. I encourage all to visit the Le Bonheur website and view the aforementioned press conference on the upcoming flu season

A couple of key points that were discussed:

1) If your child receives flu like symptoms, have him examined by your pediatrician or family doctor before contacting Le Bonheur or other hospital.
2) The H1N1 virus is not life threatening if treated so theres no need for panic.
3) Its most commonly found in children due to the lack of antigen response that develops with exposure in adults.
4) The vaccine should become available in mid-October and is very safe.
5) Prophylactic (preventative) treatment has been proven as a successful way to combat the virus. However, this is not necessary unless there are known cases that you might come in contact with such as a coworker, child, or workplace that has large volume and direct contact.

If you have any more questions Ill be glad to answer in this thread from what I know. Two medicines that are recommended for treatment are oseltamivir (Tamivir®) and zenamavir (Relenza®). Oseltamivir has been approved to use in children ages 12 months and older although it has been authorized to use as early as neonates due to the mitigating circumstances.

My recommendations:
Take the vaccine if available if part of your yearly routine
Observe outbreaks in workplace or schools for children
Take normal precautionary measures for disease control (washing hands, hand sanitizer, etc.)

I hope this was helpful

~Brett

I'm normally all for vaccines, my children have all had their's. But I have heard the urban legend from a couple of places that the H1N1 vaccine has been rushed into production. If it has, are there any extra dangers or am I getting the flu?

(08-31-2009 04:04 PM)tigerengineer Wrote:  

(08-31-2009 01:45 PM)homefry20 Wrote:  I work in the Infectious Diseases department here at Le Bonheur and this morning, we had a 'press conference' about the upcoming flu season and most importantly, the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. This segment was filmed by three of the major news stations here in Memphis and should air sometime tonight or later on in the week. It was conducted by the head of my department (Dr. Keith English) and is structured to inform the common citizen on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. I encourage all to visit the Le Bonheur website and view the aforementioned press conference on the upcoming flu season

A couple of key points that were discussed:

1) If your child receives flu like symptoms, have him examined by your pediatrician or family doctor before contacting Le Bonheur or other hospital.
2) The H1N1 virus is not life threatening if treated so theres no need for panic.
3) Its most commonly found in children due to the lack of antigen response that develops with exposure in adults.
4) The vaccine should become available in mid-October and is very safe.
5) Prophylactic (preventative) treatment has been proven as a successful way to combat the virus. However, this is not necessary unless there are known cases that you might come in contact with such as a coworker, child, or workplace that has large volume and direct contact.

If you have any more questions Ill be glad to answer in this thread from what I know. Two medicines that are recommended for treatment are oseltamivir (Tamivir®) and zenamavir (Relenza®). Oseltamivir has been approved to use in children ages 12 months and older although it has been authorized to use as early as neonates due to the mitigating circumstances.

My recommendations:
Take the vaccine if available if part of your yearly routine
Observe outbreaks in workplace or schools for children
Take normal precautionary measures for disease control (washing hands, hand sanitizer, etc.)

I hope this was helpful

~Brett

I'm normally all for vaccines, my children have all had their's. But I have heard the urban legend from a couple of places that the H1N1 vaccine has been rushed into production. If it has, are there any extra dangers or am I getting the flu?

It's as safe as the one that is used every year. Think of it like this, H1N1 is not considered a life threatening disease to anyone of normal health. These doctors, including my boss, would not put a 'cure' that is more risky than the diseases itself on the market. It makes no sense. As far as rushing it, they dont normally start developing the normal flu vaccine for the upcoming season until late spring and early summer. That being said, development on this vaccine has been underway since early June so i wouldnt call it rushed.

As far as possible kinks that havent been worked out, remember when they asked you when you were about to receive a flu shot if you were allergic to egg whites? They used some derivatives to create the vaccine but it wasnt serious. Basically, you might end up with an allergic reaction but even that is a mere trace probability.


Final Thought: If you are used to receiving a flu shot every year then wait on the H1N1 vaccine and get it. If you dont normally get one, theres not a much bigger risk this season.