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Cold and Flu Information

"Are you ready for cold/flu season?"

(Updated: 11/12/09)

I. No Need To Panic!

A. The H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) appears to behave like other mild, seasonal flu viruses. Still, serious illness is possible, so it is wise to practice prevention.

B. Get a "cold/flu kit" together before you need it. Suggested items include:

H1N1 prevention

II. How To Prevent The Flu

A. Review Steps to Fight the Flu (PDF)

B. The following list identifies some of the community providers of either Seasonal Flu and/or H1N1 Flu vaccine. (If you are from the Bay Area, also check with your local health care provider [e.g. Kaiser] to see if they have any vaccine.) Call or check provider websites for current availability of either vaccine, dates and times of administering vaccines, targeted population for the vaccine, and cost, if any.

The Student Health Center (SHC) is no longer making appointments for Seasonal Flu vaccine.
SHC will give priority to the following target groups when administering our limited supply of H1N1 vaccine.

C. Target Student Groups for receiving the H1N1 vaccine:

  1. Pregnant women
  2. Caregivers of children < 6 months old or of those severely immunocompromised
  3. Healthcare workers
  4. People 6 months – 24 years old
  5. People 25-64 years old with chronic medical conditions

III. If You've Been Exposed To The H1N1 Virus

A. Exposure can mean being within 6 feet or less of someone with active flu symptoms.

B. Exposure to someone sick with the flu does not mean you need to contact your health care provider unless you fit any of the following categories:

  1. Adults 65 years or older
  2. Pregnant
  3. Chronic medical conditions (lung, heart, liver, kidney, diabetes, blood including sickle cell disease) or immunosuppression
  4. Less than 19 years old on long-term aspirin treatment
  5. Neuromuscular disease

C. If you do not fit any of the above situations but you've been exposed to the H1N1 virus, you do not need to see a healthcare provider. If you get the flu, see Section IV below.

D. Unless you have flu symptoms, you can go to school and work, while practicing the prevention behaviors in Section II above.

IV. If You Get The Flu

A. There is no need to contact your health care provider unless you have any of the following symptoms:

  1. A fever of 101 or greater for 3 or more days
  2. Shortness of breath or chest pain
  3. Dizziness/fainting/confusion
  4. Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
  5. Symptoms that last for more than 10 days or are getting worse
  6. You fit any of the categories listed in Section IIIB above.

B. If you do not have any of the above symptoms or fit any of the above categories, stay home and take care of yourself (see: Cold/Flu Treatment-PDF)

C. Consistent with most California health clinics, the SHC is not testing for the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus.

D. Check out these sites for more Self Care tips:

V. For The Latest Updates On H1N1 (Swine Flu)

A. Please visit the county's Public Health Department on the web.

B. Other good sources for info:

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