Be Prepared!

USF Monitors and Prepares for H1N1

The University of San Francisco is closely monitoring the spread of the H1N1 (swine) flu virus, and is making preparations to handle any potential outbreak this fall among our students, faculty and staff.

The University's Pandemic Flu Assessment worked this summer to enhance its emergency plans specifically related to H1N1, and continues to meet regularly. The plan was developed with guidance from both the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its recommendations for higher education.

We encourage all members of the USF community to become educated about this potential health threat. This website will be your starting point for information on USF's response to the H1N1 flu. We will update this site as new information becomes available.

For more on what you can do visit our information pages:

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself:
To help minimize the spread of flu on campus, we ask your help with the following:

• USF has installed thirty Purell hand sanitizing stations at locations across campus.  We encourage you to use these every time you enter and leave a campus building. Washing your hands or using a sanitizer is the number one way to stop the transmission of the flu virus.
  
  
• Wash your hands. Use soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.  Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective. USF has placed free Purell hand sanitizing stations at locations across campus.
  
  
• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are spread this way.
  
  
• Know the Symptoms of Flu: Fever, chills, cough, headache, runny nose, sore throat and muscle aches. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Some people also experience vomiting and diarrhea. The H1N1 Flu can last up to 7 days; however a mild lingering cough may last for several weeks. Most cases of the flu can be managed with rest and fluids.
  
  
• Stay Home: Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever. This will help stop the spread of the virus.
  
  
• When to Seek Medical Advice: Most people with H1N1 flu or flu-like illness will not need to seek medical treatment. Seek medical advice if you have trouble breathing, experience chest pain, skin rash, prolonged vomiting and/or diarrhea (more than 24 hours), are unable to swallow or keep down fluids, or your fever lasts for more than 3 days. Also, consider seeing a doctor if you have a chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart, lung and/or an immune system disorder; and/or you are pregnant.
  
  
• Vaccinations: There are two different vaccinations you should know about. The first is for the seasonal flu. This vaccine helps protect against a number of flu strains, but is not expected to protect against the H1N1 virus. This vaccine will be given on campus on Monday, September 21. The second vaccine is being developed specifically for the H1N1 virus. This vaccine is not yet available, but should be ready later this fall. USF is monitoring the availability of this vaccine, and will post information here when it becomes available.