Click the image above to download an 8.5x11" printable PDF document.
For more information visit www.flu.gov or call your family physician, Student Health Services at 769-7818, Panhandle Health at www.phd1.idaho.gov, or the Center for Disease Control at (800) 232-4636.
Links
- General Information about H1N1
- Recommended Steps for Students, Faculty, and Staff
- H1N1 Flu Vaccinations
- Vaccine Q and A
- Stay Home If You Feel Sick
- Taking Care of Someone With Symptoms
- Latest Center for Disease Control H1N1 Updates
- Flu.gov
H1N1 Flu Information
H1N1 vaccines still available
Student Health Services still has a limited number of H1N1 vaccines. There are no longer restrictions as to who can receive the vaccine.
Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to schedule an appointment at Student Health Services if they would like to receive this free vaccination. Call Ext. 7818 to schedule an appointment.
Panhandle Health District offers drop-in clinics
The Panhandle Health District is offering free H1N1 flu vaccination clinics for all ages this week. The clinics are being offered on a drop-in basis; no appointment is necessary. Click the following links for the drop-in clinics in Kootenai County, Bonner County, Boundary County, Shoshone County, and Benewah County.
H1N1 vaccines offered for NIC employees
Student Health Services will offer H1N1 flu vaccines on the second level of the Edminster Student Union Building for North Idaho College students and employees with a current NIC ID. The clinics will be offered on the following dates:
- Noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7
- 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8
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Please stay home if you are sick or have a sick child
10/23/2009
It is extremely important for the overall health of those on campus that NIC employees and students stay home if they are sick. This is one of the most important measures that can be taken to prevent the spread of illness.
Due to the prevalence and highly contagious nature of the H1N1 influenza, NIC instructors and managers have been directed to be flexible with absences during this flu season. Students and employees should not feel compelled to come to campus ill, nor should they bring sick children with them to campus if the children stayed home from school or a child care facility with an illness.
If you are feeling sick or need to care for a sick child, please stay home.
The last seasonal flu clinic will be held from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 in the upper level of the Edminster Student Union Building. This clinic is for NIC, University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College employees and students only. It is free to NIC employees and students and $15 for Lewis-Clark State College and University of Idaho students and employees.
Panhandle Health District activates phone line
10/19/2009
The Panhandle Health District distributed a news release today regarding the death of a Post Falls man that may be related to
H1N1 influenza.
"The death of a resident of our community saddens us deeply and our sympathies go out to his family and other loved ones," said Panhandle Health District Director Jeanne Bock. "Although most cases of H1N1 recover without medical attention, this is an unfortunate reminder that all flu viruses can be deadly. We must continue to be vigilant in preventing the spread of the H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza. We anticipate that we could see more illnesses and deaths from H1N1, which is now widespread in our communities."
Prevention continues to be the most important tool. Another key factor to remember is while emphasis is placed on staying home and not seeking medical attention for the initial onset of influenza like symptoms, it is important to remember the symptoms that suggest you should seek care. If you get sick then feel better and start feeling sick again or sicker, you should seek medical attention. Symptoms for adults that warrant medical attention include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, and again, flu-like symptoms that improve but return with fever and worse cough.
The Panhandle Health District activated a telephone hotline this week to answer the public's many questions on H1N1.
The toll-free number is 1-866-528-3501. The hotline is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Flu shot clinics to be held in October
9/28/2009
Student Health Services will provide a seasonal flu vaccine clinic in October for NIC staff, faculty, and students only. The clinics will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, and from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 in Silver Beach Gallery, the lobby area on the second floor of the SUB. The seasonal flu vaccine will be free for all NIC students and employees with current ID.
The numbers of influenza-like illness continue to hover at the same rate. Student Health Services is seeing several cases each day and the attendance reports from faculty are holding steady. The number of cases reported on the Panhandle Health District website also remains steady and low. Keep up the good work on prevention!
If H1N1 vaccine is available for general distribution by the time NIC holds its seasonal clinics, Student Health Services will offer both. If not, other arrangements will be made and campus will be notified as soon as details are confirmed.
The Panhandle Health District is seeking volunteers to help with the community flu shot clinics. They not only need doctors and nurses, but also interpreters, office support staff, and other personnel.
Flu shots to come later this fall; continue good hand-washing
9/18/2009
Student Health Services is continuing to see cases of influenza-like illness on a daily basis, although the numbers remain fairly low.
The H1N1 vaccine will probably be shipped beginning early next month. While Student Health Services staff members are awaiting final recommendations that advise only one shot, that recommendation is not yet official. If indeed that is the case, there should be enough H1N1 vaccine for those who want to receive it.
The shipments of vaccine will be about two weeks apart so neither NIC, nor anyone else, will receive as much as it might need all at once. NIC’s Student Health Services will follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for priorities and then identify other groups that are most at risk for exposure, such as those living in the Residence Hall. Information will be shared with the campus community as it is available.
The regular seasonal flu clinics are scheduled for the week of Oct. 19 and another at the end of October. Specific times and dates will be announced as the details are confirmed. If NIC has H1N1 vaccine by then, students and employees could choose to get both vaccines at once (one in each arm).
The vaccine and supplies for H1N1 are being supplied by the federal government. Student Health Services and the NIC Wellness Program are purchasing seasonal flu vaccine and supplies for the campus community, but will not vaccinate spouses/partners of employees or students this year. Pediatric immunizations are not administered on campus.
Keep up the good work in preventing the spread of respiratory illness, through:
- Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze;
- Washing your hands often with soap and water or using hand sanitizers;
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; and
- Staying home if you get sick.
NIC sees approximately 25 cases of flu-like illness
9/14/2009
Over the past two weeks, Student Health Services at NIC has seen approximately 25 students with influenza-like illness. That terminology is being used for several reasons. Typically, testing for influenza covers Influenza A and B, the typical seasonal flu viruses. H1N1 is a subtype of Influenza A. Since there is not an influx of seasonal influenza at this time, a positive Influenza A result is 90 percent predictive to be H1N1, according to lab reports.
The Centers for Disease Control is only recommending definitive H1N1 testing for specific situations and one of the reasons is because the test costs $300. Additionally, since there is no treatment for the illness, except for very specific cases, there is no need to be tested. Student Health Services is doing some testing to monitor the incidence of illness, but is not testing each possible case. So far, two students have tested positive for Influenza A.
“There are definitely cases on campus and the volume is reflective of what is reported in the community on the Panhandle Health District website,” said Dean of Students Linda Michal.
Student Health Services is actively monitoring illness activity on campus and continues to recommend that students and employees stay home if they are sick.
The NIC Residence Hall has established a plan for responding to residents with influenza-like illness and will be sending informational letters to parents this week. Actions are intended to minimize the contact between an ill student and other residents, students, employees, and community members.
Several NIC students report influenza like symptoms
9/7/2009
Student Health Services has seen a few students with influenza-like illness. That terminology is being used because the cases have not been confirmed since the specific testing for H1N1 Influenza is limited and expensive. Specific testing is recommended for pregnant women, those who are hospitalized, and healthcare workers with an outbreak in a care facility.
The Panhandle Health District website is reporting 14 cases of H1N1 Influenza in the five northern counties of Idaho as of Sept. 2.
NIC’s Facilities Operations Department is ordering and dispensing hand sanitizer dispensers, bottles of sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes to classrooms and offices campuswide as they are available. Some have been installed some and more are expected next week.
Staff and faculty members are being encouraged to continue to remind students, co-workers, and families to stay home if they are sick, especially with a fever.
Proper and frequent hand washing and respiratory etiquette are two of the best tools to help prevent the spread of this illness.
NIC undertakes initial preparations for possible spread of flu this fall
08/28/2009
The Center for Disease Control has provided recommendations to all higher education institutions on specific steps to take this flu season, given the possibility of the continued spread of H1N1 Influenza.
On Aug. 19, Student Health Services Director Linda Michal attended the H1N1 Influenza Summit hosted locally by the Panhandle Health District and she will begin leading NIC in its initiatives this fall in planning for and preventing the spread of the virus.
Communications with students, staff, and faculty have begun. Posters and announcements encouraging preventative measures such as hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes are being distributed around campus. Additionally with contingency funds, the college has purchased hand sanitizer dispensers for all of the classrooms on campus and sanitizing wipes and small bottles of hand sanitizer are being distributed to all college offices.
The Center for Disease Control recommends that those who are sick isolate themselves and stay home at least 24 hours after the fever and fever symptoms subside. Because NIC’s student attendance policy varies by instructor, the Office of Instruction is encouraging all faculty members to be flexible with student attendance this year if the flu becomes prevalent on campus.
NIC’s department of eLearning and Outreach is encouraging instructors to look at creative ways to offer courses if illness affects a large percentage of students in class or the instructors themselves. Every section of every course NIC offers has the potential to place instructional content online, according to NIC eLearning and Outreach Director Jamie Green. And a variety of other methods of course delivery are available as well, including real-time delivery via interactive video conferencing, web-based virtual classrooms and placing recorded lectures online.
Employee managers have been encouraged by Human Resources to ensure that sick employees stay home until they are well to help limit the spread of the flu.
As is done every year, Student Health Services will oversee flu vaccination clinics administered by nursing students for students and employees in October. The H1N1 Influenza vaccine is not available yet, but plans are to offer the vaccine to those at the highest risk for flu complications if they become available.
The NIC Children’s Center and the NIC Residence Hall are developing plans for how to educate residents and parents of children in the center about flu prevention as well as planning for a potential outbreak.
Questions may be directed to the NIC Student Health Services Office at (208) 769-7818 or for information on illness prevention, symptoms, and what to do if you become sick.