With the novel H1N1 virus complicating flu season this fall and winter, it is imperative that students be prepared for the possibility that you or someone you know may get the flu. Drexel will provide support to students who need to stay home while ill.
What are the symptoms of flu?
What do you do if you become ill during the day with an ILI?
What does it mean to “self-isolate”?
What about classes?
When can you return to school?
What if you are the roommate of an ill student?
What about vaccination?
What are the symptoms of flu?
The CDC defines an “influenza-like illness” (ILI) as a fever of 100 ºF or greater and a cough or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than influenza.
What do you do if you become ill during the day with an ILI?
- Stop what you are doing immediately. Go home and self-isolate (see below) in your apartment, home or dorm, except to get medical care or other necessities.
- You MUST call the Student Health Services flu hotline at 215-895-6802, even if you have a private source for medical care. This allows us to keep track of flu on campus.You may hear a recorded message followed by options to connect directly with student health.
- Contact your medical provider if you have severe illness or are in a group at high risk for complications (pregnant, immunosuppressed or with chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular or metabolic disorders).
- If you live in on-campus housing, contact University Housing/Residential Living at 215-895- 6230 for additional assistance.
What does it mean to “self-isolate”?
If you are experiencing flu sy mptoms, you should isolate yourself and not interact and socialize with fellow students until you are free of fever and symptoms. Do not attend social or athletic events and activities. Do not attend class.
Ill students living within 120 miles of campus are strongly encouraged to return home to recuperate and prevent transmission to the campus community.
If you live in on-campus housing, when you notify University Housing/Residential Living that you have an ILI , they will partner with Student Health Services, Campus Dining, University Facilities and other departments to provide services to you.
You will be encouraged to establish a “flu buddy scheme” in which you pair up with another student to care for each other. Your Resident Assistant and Resident Director can also provide you with help.
Campus Dining will provide meals to ill students, either under an active University meal plan or, for students not currently enrolled in a plan, at a daily rate of $25.75. You can request meals via University Housing/Residential Living. Your meals will be made available for pick-up by your flu buddy at the Handschumacher Dining Center at specified times. If you do not have a buddy, contact your Resident Director.
What about classes?
If you develop an ILI, contact your instructors via email or phone to inform them that you are ill and cannot attend class. If you are unable to make that contact, please ask a friend or Resident Assistant to help you.
When you are feeling able, continue your academic work independently through readings, research and online activities that instructors may have prepared. Keep your instructor informed as to your progress and, when able, indicate when you expect to return to class. Please be honest and honorable in your interactions with your instructor and do not take advantage of the situation.
When can you return to school?
Unless you are on a clinical rotation, you may return to class and University activities 24 hours after your fever resolves. (The fever must be gone without the use of fever-reducing medications, e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen.)
If you are on a clinical rotation or in a clinical skills or ambulatory session in a healthcare setting, you may return seven days after the onset of illness or 24 hours after your last fever, whichever is longer.
You will not be expected to supply a written excuse from a physician when you return to class. Although all mandatory coursework will need to be made up, course directors and faculty are making plans this year in case there is a need to accommodate sick students.
What if you are the roommate of an ill student?
If you live in on-campus housing and your roommate develops an ILI, you will be given the option to remain in the room or relocate. If you remain in the same room, you will be educated on best practices to prevent the spread of the virus, including maintaining a distance of at least six feet from the ill student.
If you elect to move, you will be relocated to a vacant room or lounge within the on-campus housing system. Because it is possible you have already been exposed, you will need to monitor your personal health for a minimum of seven days.
When your roommate has been symptom- and fever-free for 24 hours, you will be advised that you can return to your room.
What about vaccination?
All students are strongly urged to be vaccinated with both the new H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal influenza vaccine. This is in your best interest and that of your friends, colleagues and teachers.
Drexel expects to be able to offer all eligible students vaccination with the H1N1 vaccine when it is available. The University will also offer the seasonal influenza vaccine as it does each year. Further details regarding vaccination dates will be communicated to you as they become available, including via this Web site.
If you have your own health care provider who can offer you seasonal influenza vaccine now, you should move forward with that vaccine as soon as possible. You can then attend Drexel's H1N1 clinic when the H1N1 vaccine arrives.
