2013 Influenza Communication to Students
Dear Students,
Spring semester begins on Tuesday, January 22, in the midst of a busy influenza—or flu—season. This message includes information about preventing the spread of the flu and what to do if you are sick. It also contains important information about what to do if you need to miss class because you are ill.
Influenza is an upper respiratory infection and can be very serious. Symptoms tend to come on quickly and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and extreme tiredness. This is not a "stomach flu," which includes nausea and vomiting. We have provided a web page with information about prevention and treatment if you become ill.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommend that everyone over six months of age be vaccinated. If you have not yet been vaccinated, Boynton Health Service is offering free vaccination clinics. Alternatively, contact your healthcare provider.
To prevent further spread of the flu, the University asks that students who are sick stay home and away from class.
Effective today, the University has temporarily suspended the requirement for a doctor's note for excused absences from class due to illness and the University's policy requiring mandatory attendance at the first class session.
Be sure to contact your instructor by email immediately if you are or become ill and will miss class. (Again, please stay away from class if you have the flu.) Ask to find out how to make up missed classes, tests, and assignments.
You may return to class once you have been fever free for 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medicine.
Thank you and best wishes for a successful and healthy spring semester.
Sincerely,
Karen Hanson
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
John Finnegan
Assistant Vice President for Public Health and Dean of the School of Public Health
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