Follow RIT’s H1N1 flu plans online

RIT’s H1N1 (Swine) Flu Emergency Preparedness Web site provides important information about what can be done to prevent people from getting the flu and what to do if they get sick. It also has information specific to students, staff, faculty and supervisors.

Look for regular updates on the site. For example: The RIT Student Health Center reported it treated 11 students with an influenza-like illness between Oct. 19 and Oct. 25. Three other students reported an illness but were treated elsewhere. It is difficult to distinguish between seasonal and H1N1 flu. The center has advised these students to recover in their rooms. Students who are ill must self-isolate until they feel well and have had no fever for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine).

Reminders:
“Wash it” Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice) or with alcohol-based (at least 60 percent) hand sanitizer by rubbing the hands together until the gel dries. Make sure soap and/or hand sanitizer are available in the bathrooms.

“Cover it” Cover your cough/sneeze to prevent spreading viruses through the air. The best way is to cough into your elbow—this avoids contaminating the hands with the virus. The other way is to cough into a tissue, discard the tissue in the trash and then wash hands as outlined above.

A vaccine has been developed for the H1N1 flu. It is expected to be available to students soon. A notification will be sent when an H1N1 clinic is established on campus.