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Student Treatment

Students should contact their health care providers -- or the WPI Health Center – by phone at the onset of H1N1 or ILI symptoms; it is important to call rather than visit because it could serve as a preventative measure for uninfected individuals.  Students should also communicate directly with their health care providers if they have questions and concerns about their illness, or if they are experiencing more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest, sudden dizziness, confusion or severe or persistent vomiting.

If you do get sick with the flu, get plenty of rest and drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated. If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible.

Students who are sick with H1N1 or ILI should self isolate at the onset of symptoms and should not report to classes, labs or public events until a full 24 hours after their fever passes (without the aid of fever-reducing medication).  Staying away from others while sick can prevent others from getting sick too. If you share a room, you should limit your contact with your roommate(s) and try to maintain a distance of 6 feet from him or her.  If close contact cannot be avoided, you should wear a surgical mask, if tolerable, when you are around your roommate and other people. You should also frequently clean commonly-touched surfaces to prevent infecting others.  You should ask a "flu buddy" - a roommate, friend, or family member -  to check up on you and to bring you food and supplies if needed.

Afflicted students who wish to go home for isolation must arrange for private transportation home; no one with symptoms should ride on public transportation because there is a likelihood of further spreading the disease.  In addition, WPI can arrange for the care and feeding of students who either need or wish to stay in their on campus housing rather than returning home.  In the event of a shutdown, students who are unable to return home should consider a backup plan in the event the university must be evacuated on short notice.

The Academic Affairs office is working with academic departments and faculty to permit students to make up missed work wherever possible. 

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Last modified: September 28, 2009 10:46:10