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About This Site

Students, parents and employees should check this site regularly for official updates from the Office of University Communications on H1N1 flu at The University of Southern Mississippi. The information contained here should not be substituted for official medical advice. If you have symptoms or have specific medical questions, please contact your personal physician or Student Health Services in Hattiesburg at 601.266.5390.

Q&A for Students and Employees

Q. Which students and employees are at higher risk for complications from flu?

Anyone can get the flu--even healthy people--and anyone can have serious problems from the flu. Students, faculty and staff should be encouraged to talk with their health care provider to determine if they are at higher risk for flu complications, especially if they have been in close contact with others who are sick with flu or flu-like illness.

Some groups are at higher risk for complications from the flu. These include children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) and people 65 years of age and older.

Q. What actions should pregnant students or employees take to protect themselves from the flu?

Pregnant women should follow the same guidance as the general public related to staying home when sick, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and routine cleaning. Pregnant women are at higher risk of complications from flu and, like all people at higher risk, should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible if they develop flu-like symptoms. Early treatment with antiviral flu medicines is recommended for pregnant women who have the flu; these medicines are most effective when started within the first 48 hours of feeling sick.

Pregnant women should know that they are part of the first priority group to receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. Seasonal flu vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women and can be given at any time during pregnancy.

Q. How do I know if someone has 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu?

It will be very hard to tell if someone who is sick has 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu. Public health officials and medical authorities will not be recommending laboratory tests. Anyone who has the symptoms of flu-like illness should stay home and not go to work.

Q. What fever-reducing medications can students, faculty and staff take when sick?

Fever-reducing medications are medicines that contain acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Motrin). These medicines can be given to people who are sick with flu to help bring their fever down and relieve their pain. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age who has flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.

Q. What is self-isolation?

Self-isolation is when sick people stay home and away from other people until they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). During the period of self-isolation, sick people should limit contact with others and try to maintain a distance of at least six feet from people. If close contact cannot be avoided, sick people should wear a surgical mask when they are around other people, if they can tolerate it.

During current flu conditions, people who are sick should stay home and away from other people until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever. If flu conditions become more severe, those who are sick should stay at their home, dormitory or residence hall for at least seven days, even if symptoms go away sooner. People who are still sick after seven days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away.

Q. What should students or employees living on campus do if they get the flu?

CDC recommends that people with flu-like illness remain at home and away from other people until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). For those who cannot leave campus and return to their family’s home, if they live in a private room they should remain in their room and receive care from one person.

Q. What steps should I take if my roommate is sick with the flu?

You should limit your contact with your sick roommate and try to maintain a distance of six feet from him or her. If close contact cannot be avoided, your sick roommate should wear a surgical mask, if tolerable, when he or she is around you and other people. You should frequently clean commonly touched surfaces.

Q. How long should a student or employee with the flu stay at home or in their residence?

Under current flu conditions, faculty, students, and staff with flu-like symptoms should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38  degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). The sick person may decide to stop taking fever-reducing medicines as he or she begins to feel better. This person should continue to monitor his or her temperature until it has been normal for 24 hours. If flu conditions become more severe, the sick person should stay home or in their residence for seven days.

A person who is still sick after seven days should stay home until 24 hours after the symptoms have gone away. In addition, this longer period should be used in health care settings and may be considered anywhere a high number of people at higher risk for complications from flu may be exposed, such as childcare facilities.

Sick people should stay at home or in their residence, except to go to the health care provider’s office, and they should avoid contact with others. Keeping people with a fever at home may reduce the number of people who get infected with the flu virus. Because high body temperatures are linked with higher amounts of virus, people with a fever may be more contagious.

Student Health Services

118 College Drive #5066
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
601.266.5390
Health.Promotion@usm.edu
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Hours of Operation:
Mon.-Wed.: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.