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What MIT is doing about H1N1—and what you can do

A message from the medical director at MIT Medical

September 11, 2009

To the MIT Community:

The likely reemergence of the pandemic H1N1 influenza (swine flu) at MIT is an active concern for all those charged with keeping the Institute community healthy and safe. I am writing to let you know about the preparations we have made to deal with this illness on our campus and to review best practices for preventing its spread.
 
For more than a year, members of the MIT Emergency Operations Center have been making plans to respond to various pandemic scenarios. This effort has involved experts in community health and infectious diseases from MIT Medical working with individuals from MIT’s Environment, Health and Safety Office; Security and Emergency Management Office; Information Systems and Technology; Division of Student Life; and News Office to prepare for a comprehensive and effective campus-wide response to a widespread outbreak of illness at MIT.

Stay informed. One of our primary goals is to keep the community informed. To that end, I encourage you to frequently check the MIT Medical home page for the most up-to-date information on H1N1, its impact on our community, and our community health efforts. MIT Flu Central also has links to the latest H1N1-related information from other MIT departments, including Human Resources and Division of Student Life, and other sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Prevent the spread of flu. As you probably know, influenza can be spread easily from person to person. We need everyone’s help to protect the health of our community by preventing the spread of H1N1. This means following the same strategies normally recommended to guard against seasonal influenza and other contagious illnesses: Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; cover coughs and sneezes with your upper sleeve or a tissue; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

If you become sick with a flu-like illness, we ask that you “self-isolate” to avoid spreading the illness to others. Influenza usually starts suddenly (as opposed to colds, which tend to come on more gradually) and may include the following symptoms: fever (usually higher than 100° F), headache, fatigue (can be extreme), cough, sore throat, body aches, and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea (more often in children than adults). If you have these symptoms, you should avoid close contact with other people until 24 hours after your fever has resolved and body temperature has remained normal without the use of fever-reducing drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Don’t go to work or to class when you are sick. Sick students whose families live within driving distance should consider going home for a few days.

• Students who are ill should call MIT Medical (617-253-4481) to review their symptoms and get advice about self care and when to come in to be seen. With a student’s permission, staff at MIT Medical will notify the office of the Dean of Student Life of the student’s illness, thereby activating both residential and academic care plans.

• Most individuals with H1N1 influenza will recover without medical intervention and do not need to be seen by a clinician. Exceptions are women who are pregnant, individuals with underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for developing serious complications from the flu, or anyone with serious symptoms, including trouble breathing, sudden dizziness, or abdominal pain or pressure. More information on when you need to be seen by a clinician is available in the Flu FAQ on the MIT Medical website.

Get a flu shot. There will be two influenza vaccines this year—one for seasonal influenza (one shot) and one for H1N1 (probably two shots, four weeks apart).

• Seasonal flu vaccine is arriving soon. MIT Medical expects to receive a sufficient supply of vaccine for all MIT students and MIT Health Plan members. Flu shots can be scheduled now by calling 617-253-4865. We encourage members of the MIT community who are not covered by one of the MIT Health Plans to obtain a flu shot through their own health care providers or through a community flu clinic. To find a clinic in your area, visit MassPRO’s Public Flu Clinic Finder. Non-MIT Medical patients who are unable to get a flu shot through a health care provider or flu clinic outside MIT Medical may get a seasonal flu shot at MIT for a fee.

• H1N1 vaccine will be available beginning in November and will be available free of charge to everyone in the MIT community, beginning with government-mandated priority groups. The first two priority groups include pregnant women, those caring for infants younger than six months, young people up to the age of 25, and others who are at higher risk for complications of H1N1 due to chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
  
  We strongly recommend this immunization to members of the MIT community—especially those in the highest priority groups. More information on the H1N1 vaccine, including details on priority groups and vaccine safety, is available on MIT Flu Central. Once the vaccine is available, information on H1N1 flu clinics will also be posted on the MIT Medical home page.

As the new semester begins, we encourage everyone in our community to take care of themselves: Eat properly, get enough sleep, manage your stress levels, and practice proper hygiene. If you have questions that are not answered by this letter or elsewhere on the MIT Medical website, feel free to send an email to comments-fluinfo@mit.edu.

Sincerely,

William Kettyle, M.D.
Medical Director, MIT Medical