· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze OR cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
· Practice good hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or by cleaning them with an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
· Clean your space. Frequently clean living quarters, especially commonly used surfaces such as desktops, doorknobs, remote controls, phones, iPods, and keyboards.
· Try to avoid close contact with ill people. A distance of 6 feet or more is recommended at all times, where feasible.

What are the symptoms of Influenza A?

According to the Centers for Disease Control website: The symptoms of Influenza A in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

At present, LSU, state and federal agencies are no longer conducting routine tests for H1N1 virus. However, it is presumed that any Influenza A circulating at this time of the year is the H1N1 virus.

What should you do if you become ill?

According to the CDC, Influenza A and the H1N1 flu virus (a subgroup of Influenza A) have the same properties in terms of spread as seasonal flu viruses. With seasonal flu, studies have shown that people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to seven days after they get sick. The following measures are recommended:

• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand sanitizers or cleaners, tissues and other related items might be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.
• Students who live on campus and have flu related illnesses are encouraged to go home or stay off campus with friends or relatives during recovery, when feasible. When leaving campus is not feasible, students should self-isolate (i.e., stay away from others) in their residence hall room or apartment for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (their fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine) except to get medical care or for other necessities.
• If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze. You are contagious to others through the spread of virus-containing respiratory droplets each time you cough or sneeze. These droplets can survive on environmental surfaces for up to 2-8 hours.
• Frequently clean surfaces such as books, counters, desks, doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, iPods, remote controls, and tables with an alcohol-based cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, iodine-based antiseptics, or soap. Linens, eating utensils, and dishes do not need to be cleaned separately, but should not be shared without first washing thoroughly.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated.
• To the best of your ability, refrain from contact with roommates or family members. A distance of 6 feet or more is recommended at all times, where feasible.
• If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:
  o Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  o Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  o Sudden dizziness
  o Confusion
  o Severe persistent vomiting
  o Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Students may choose to seek medical attention on campus at the Student Health Center or any one of a number of other medical clinics in the area. The normal fall semester operating hours for the Student Health Center are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday (Medical Clinics and Pharmacy Only) 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Communicate with your roommate(s), close contacts, boyfriends/girlfriends, etc. about the diagnosis. Residential Life will maintain the privacy of your health information, and consequently sharing this information with the appropriate individuals around you is your responsibility. Anyone who has been in close contact with you within 24 hours of your getting sick should contact their health care provider, particularly if they have an underlying health condition.
• You should make arrangements to be absent for one week of classes. This means coordinating note takers and keeping in contact with your professors.
• Email each of your professors indicating your diagnosis and the date on which you tested positive. (Email addresses may be found by logging in to PAWS and clicking on Directory Information.) In the email, you may ask each professor if he/she can assist in acquiring a volunteer note taker in each class. It will be your responsibility to contact the note taker.
• Review your course syllabi so you are aware of the make-up policy for each class. You should follow-up with each professor when you are able to resume your class schedule to discuss missed assignments and missed instruction.
• In addition to contacting your professors, it is suggested that you also inform your academic dean’s office. Staff members may be able to provide additional support and direction to affected students.
• Should you experience undue hardship in contacting your professors or receive negative feedback regarding missed classes, please contact Jennie Stewart, Assistant Director/C.A.R.E. Manager in the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability at jstewart@lsu.edu or 225-578-5969.

What cleaning products should students use to sanitize their living space?

According to the CDC website: “To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label. Several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time.” Additional cleaning circumstances to consider include the following:

· 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” dirty laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty laundry.
· Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.
· According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some suggested products to use for cleaning and sanitizing include the following:
o Lysol Brand Disinfectant Foam Power Heavy Duty Bathroom Cleaner
o Lysol Brand Disinfectant Direct Multi-Purpose Cleaner
o Lysol Brand Pre-Moistened Touch-Ups Disinfecting Cleaning Wipes
o Lysol Brand Foaming Disinfectant Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner II
o Lysol Brand disinfectant Trigger Spray
o Lysol Brand Disinfectant Basin, Tub, & Tile Cleaner Pre-Moistened Wipe
o Lysol Brand Disinfectant Multi-Purpose Cleaner
o Lysol Brand Disinfectant Pine Scent Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner
o Lysol Brand Deodorizing Disinfectant Cleaner
o Lysol Brand Disinfectant Bleach Plus
o Lysol Brand Hard Water Stain Cleaner
o Comet Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner
o Mr. Clean Multi-Surfaces Antibacterial
o Ultra Mr. Clean
o Windex Antibacterial Glass & Surface Cleaner
o Tough Act The Heavy Duty Bathroom Cleaner
o Pine Sol Household Cleaner Disinfectant
o Pine-Sol Spray
o Ultra Clorox Brand 6.15% Bleach 30 Soluble Concentrate Clorox Company
o Clorox Disinfecting Spray III

Additional Information

· LSU web site, www.lsu.edu
· LSU Influenza Information, http://www.lsu.edu/safety/ERP/influenza.shtml
· CDC website, “H1N1 Flu and You” http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
· Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, www.flula.com

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