Skip to Main Content

Isolation of Students with Influenza-Like Symptoms

Those who develop ILI will be advised to practice “self-isolation” and minimize their interactions with other people on campus or in the community except to receive medical care.

Student Isolation/Infection Control Recommendations

• They should remain isolated while ill and for 24 hours after they no longer have fever (this must be without the use fever-relieving medications and even if they are on anti-viral medication).

• The Dean’s Office and professors will revise classroom attendance policies to facilitate the ability of students to remain out of class until they no longer require isolation. Professors may need to increase the use of Internet and e-mail assignments and teaching methods.

• Coaches will need to revise their attendance policies to encourage athletes to remain isolated from the team if they are suffering influenza-like illness.

• If the incidence of influenza on the Wabash campus reaches a certain point, the health center may be overwhelmed and may not be able to provide written documentation of influenza infection for all students.

• Students who live within reasonable driving distance of campus will be asked to go home to recover. They should avoid the use of public transportation.

• Each living unit will designate one or more persons to be responsible for regularly checking the H1N1 web site for updates and informing the other students living in their living unit of updated information.

• Students will team up with another student to be each other’s “flu buddy.” If one member of the twosome becomes ill, the other member will assist the ill student with getting meals or doing other errands that might be necessary.

• Students who do not live in single rooms in dormitories, fraternities or other residence facilities will need to be isolated from their roommates and other common areas. These living units should designate a room or rooms where ill students can reside in isolation or contact the Dean of Students' Office.

• If students absolutely cannot avoid close contact with others (defined as sharing eating utensils or the possibility of exposure to respiratory secretions), they will be asked to wear a surgical mask (available in the Student Health Center).

• Students should discourage their friends and family who are ill from visiting campus.

• During an outbreak, the college and student groups should minimize attendance at activities that could lead to the rapid spread of influenza such as open parties, concerts, sporting events, etc.

• All college buildings and residence halls should have adequate quantities of hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies on hand.

Students who have an influenza-like illness should seek medical attention if:

• They have a medical condition that puts them at high risk from complications from the flu including:

• Children younger than 5 years.

• People older than 65 years (though they are less likely to contract H1N1 disease).

• Children younger than 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy.

• Those diagnosed with asthma.

• Those with chronic heart, lung, liver, hematologic, neurologic, neuromuscular, and metabolic (including diabetes) diseases.

• Adults and children with immunosuppression from disease, medications or chemotherapy.

• They are concerned about their illness.

• They have a high fever.

• They have significant breathing difficulty or rapid breathing.

• They have significant chest pain or pressure.
 

Back to Top