Student Health Center

Many of you are aware of the worldwide flu epidemic from the H1N1 virus.College students are especially vulnerable to this new strain of flu, which is still highly contagious. It is important that you read and understand the following information, which will help us to contain the spread of the H1N1 flu on the UT Dallas campus

1. Students experiencing flu-like symptoms should isolate themselves from others and not go to their classes or other common campus areas, such as the Dining Hall, until their fever has been gone for 24 hours, without using fever reducing medicine.
   
   Flu-like symptoms include:
        Sudden onset of fever over 100 degrees F
        Sore throat and/or cough and body aches
        Possible nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
   
2. Dining Services offers pre-ordered boxed meals, a “sick tray" and bagged lunch or dinner for students, faculty and staff who are not able to eat in the dining hall during the hours of operation. This program also will be offered to any students who have to isolate from the general campus population. Should this situation arises, please call either Dining Services at 972-883-2269 or email at foodservice@utdallas.edu to order a boxed meal. You will need to authorize a friend to pick one up for you. One meal swipe will be deducted for each boxed meal. The Residence Life staff also will help with meals if nobody can immediately assist you.
3. Sick students are encouraged to return home, to their parent’s residence, if they live near Dallas and can arrange for private transportation for the recommended self-isolation period.
4. Students should wipe down room door knobs, computer/lap top keyboards, etc, with disinfecting wipes at the apartments and residence hall.
5. Residence hall and apartment staff will be wiping down common areas frequently with disinfectants – this includes railings, doorknobs, elevator buttons, etc.
6. Housing staff will identify locations for ill students, in the event that self-isolation is not possible, and/or a student cannot return home.
7. Housing staff will provide Lysol spray to students and their roommates who are affected by the flu to help keep the area sanitary.
8. Students and staff should cover coughs and sneezes and wash or sanitize their hands frequently.
9. Students and staff should refer to www.flu.govand the UT Dallas Health Services websitefor information.
10. Students experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact the Health Center at 972-883-2747. After hours and on weekends, students in need of medical assistance should seek care off campus. Possible sources are: private physicians or walk-in clinics such as PrimaCare or CareNow. (All charges are the student’s responsibility). Antiviral medications, if started within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms, are appropriate for some, but not all, persons with flu-like symptoms. Depending on the circumstances, the Health Center may provide special instructions for coming to the clinic, in order to minimize exposure of symptoms to others.
11. Students should get the seasonal flu vaccine. The Health Center will administer seasonal flu shots on Sept. 15 and 16. Go to www.utdallas.edu/healthcenter/ for a schedule of dates, times and location.
12. Students will be offered the H1N1 vaccine when it is available, possibly in November. Check the Health Center website for updates.
13. Students should let their Peer Advisor, Housing Staff and/or Residence Life Coordinators know if they feel that they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Beverly A. Ballard R.N., ANP
Director of Health Services, UT Dallas
800 W. Campbell Road, SU 25
Richardson, Texas 75080-3021
972-883-2747