General FAQs
What should I do if I become sick?
What should I do if a family member develops flu-like symptoms?
What flu-related research is Emory conducting?
How can I stay healthy?
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Flu info: |
Each of us must take the necessary precautions to remain healthy. The CDC stresses the importance of following some general precautions to help stem the spread of all flu-like illnesses, including H1N1 influenza:
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper arm, not your hand.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid sick people as influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of novel H1N1 influenza are similar to seasonal influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. Like seasonal flu, anyone with underlying chronic medical conditions may be more seriously impacted by swine flu.
What should I do if I get sick?
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Symptoms: Symptoms of novel H1N1 influenza are similar to seasonal influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. |
It is expected that most people will recover from H1N1 flu without needing medical care. If you do develop signs and symptoms of the flu you may be ill for a week or longer. The CDC recommends:
- Stay home and try to avoid contact with others as much as possible
- Avoid going to school or work until 24 hours after your fever is down without use of medications (there are different guidelines for the healthcare setting)
- If you need to go out to seek medical care, cover your face with a facemask and cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue
Please follow individual guidance in the resource list below:
Further advice on being ill with the flu is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm
People with risk factors for more serious disease (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy) should contact their healthcare provider for further guidance and evaluation. People developing more serious signs and symptoms of illness, like chest pain, shortness of breath, severe persistent vomiting, or dizziness or confusion, should seek medical care immediately.
What should I do if a member of my family has flu-like symptoms?
You should encourage your family member to stay home if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms and contact a healthcare provider for guidance. Seek immediate care for more serious signs and symptoms of illness, like chest pain, shortness of breath, severe persistent vomiting, or dizziness or confusion.
When providing care to a household member who is sick with influenza, the most important ways to protect yourself and others who are not sick are to:
More detailed guidance from CDC on care of family members is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm
Do I need to stay away from work if a member of my family has flu-like symptoms or is confirmed to have the H1N1 Virus?
You can continue coming to work unless you begin to have flu-like symptoms. If you become sick you should stay home and avoid contacts with others, except to seek medical care.
Can I use my vacation and sick time if I'm caring for myself or a family member with flu-like symptoms?
Staff can use accrued sick or annual leave for the duration of the time away from the workplace. Work at home options may be used in lieu of sick leave, as approved by your manager, and if these options can be accommodated by University Technology Services (UTS) capacity. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions regarding your benefits or alternative work accommodations.
Is there a vaccine?
There are two flu vaccines this fall, one for seasonal flu and one for novel H1N1.
The seasonal flu vaccine campaign started in September this year. Though this vaccine will not protect you from the novel H1N1 virus, it is the best available protection from seasonal flu strains. Obtaining the seasonal flu vaccine will help protect you from contracting the seasonal flu and prevent you from passing it on to others.
Emory has recieved the H1N1 vaccine. Due to the limited doses currently available Emory University will initially offer H1N1 influenza vaccinations to adult faculty, staff, students and immediate family members 18 years of age and over who fall within the following CDC priority groups:
- Pregnant women
- Individuals who provide care to a child or children younger than 6 months of age (either in their household or under their direct care in an out-of-home setting).
- Healthcare workers, emergency medical services (EMS) workers or health sciences students involved in direct patient care.
- Individuals 18-64 years of age with severe cardiac, pulmonary or neurodegenerative disease
What flu-related research is Emory conducting?
Emory researchers and health experts are actively engaged in flu-related research:
