November 18, 2009 – 12:00pm EST - UCF H1N1 / Influenza Update

The current influenza case statistics are as follows:

• 39 cases of H1N1 flu confirmed at UCF;
• 1,164 cases of Influenza-like illness at UCF;
• 57,000 + influenza / H1N1 related hospitalizations in the United States;
• 513,000 + cases of H1N1 flu worldwide.

On August 24th, the Florida Department of Health launched a toll-free number to provide public health information and updates on H1N1 Swine flu; the telephone number is 877-352-3581. This dedicated line will be available from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern time, 7 days per week, with information available in English, Spanish and Creole.

On July 24th, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that they would discontinue the reporting of individual confirmed and probable cases of novel H1N1 infection in the United States. This announcement mirrored a similar World Health Organization policy change announced on July 16th. In turn, Florida and Orange County have followed suit.

Influenza activity continues to remain higher than expected for this time of year; the novel H1N1 influenza virus continues to circulate in the Central Florida community. Nearly 100% of the influenza viruses being detected are novel H1N1 viruses; the average age of H1N1 patients continues to be 20 years.

All students who present with flu-like symptoms at UCF Health Services are tested for influenza. If the rapid test indicates Influenza A, there is a 99% certainty that it is novel H1N1. As a sentinel site, UCF Health Services continues to submit up to 5 samples per week to state laboratories to confirm H1N1 sub-typing.

The main way that all influenza viruses spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes, and when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their mouth or nose before washing their hands. UCF Health Services advises students, faculty and staff to take the precautions outlined below to help themselves and others stay healthy.

What Can You Do?

• Prevention: To reduce your chance of getting ill, always wash your hands before you eat and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. If you recognize that others are sick, limit your exposure to them when possible.
• Symptoms: If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider, who will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.
• If you are ill: Avoid close contact with others by remaining in your room - separate from the common areas of the house, residence hall, or apartment - until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever (100F), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• High-risk groups: People at high risk for complications of the H1N1 virus, and other strains of the seasonal flu, include those with the following conditions: Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus). Pregnant women also are at high risk for complications. Anyone in those high-risk groups should contact their health care provider if they exhibit flu-like symptoms.

Students can contact Health Services at 407-823-2701 to set up an appointment or if they have questions. They also can visit the Health Services Web site, www.hs.sdes.ucf.edu.

For more information on the H1N1 flu, visit the Florida Department of Health Web site at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/DEMO/php/FluInfo.htm , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm or the World Health Organization Web site at www.who.int/en/.