General Information

What is H1N1 (swine flu)?
Novel H1N1 (“swine flu”) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway.

Is novel H1N1 virus contagious?
CDC has determined that novel H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

How does novel H1N1 virus spread?
Spread of novel H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

How severe is illness associated with novel H1N1 flu virus?
Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Information for Students

Travel and Closures
There are no restrictions on travel due to flu anywhere in the world.

The current advice of the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control is that travel restrictions are not useful in dealing with a flu pandemic.

Some countries are screening arriving passengers at airports and other ports of entry. An up to date report on this is at wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/id/1194.aspx.

Different cities and different countries have different policies regarding closure of schools and other public and private instiutuions. Boston University will always follow the directives of local authorities and BU program offices abroad make their plans with that in mind.

Boston University International Programs does not foresee any delays or changes to our spring programs at this point.

Other Considerations

Vaccinations
We encourage students to get vaccinated for both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu. Vaccines for seasonal flu and H1N1 are arriving a little more slowly than expected but are becoming available now in most locations. Please follow the announcements of your physician and local public health authorities as to availability.

Insurance
It is important that you review your health insurance policy to ensure that your plan provides coverage for treatment overseas. It is the student’s responsibility to verify and to certify to us that he or she has adequate health insurance coverage. A hospital stay overseas can be expensive.
 
Please be certain that you understand how the coverage and the claim process work for your policy. Typically, costs must be paid directly to the provider and claims are filed with the insurance company only after bills are paid.
 
Also call your health insurance company to see if they have a 24-hour medical hotline available, and to find out how to access it from overseas. Some do, some do not.

OnCall International, our international 24/7 emergency response center partner, is also available to field H1N1 questions specifically from students abroad. Students in need of medical advice or medical referrals can contact OnCall International at (800) 407-7307 or collect from anywhere in the world at (603) 898-9159. In addition, OnCall has posted precautionary tips and up-to-date information about the illness at oncallinternational.com/Pages/health-updates-travel-advice-required-vaccination.asp.

OTC Medications
We recommend that students bring the following items with them:

• • Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or any other over the counter medication the student might want to use. These can be expensive and relatively hard to find abroad.
• • Hand sanitizers, which can also be expensive abroad. (Just remember that carry-on liquids are limited to 3 oz.)
• • A digital thermometer.

Once You are There
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that you take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
• • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• • If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible in order to keep from making others sick.
• • You do not necessarily need to see a doctor if you are ill. Please refer to the information below to make this decision.

If You are Ill
Again, not all cases of flu require a visit to a doctor, but it is important not to expose other students to illness.

Please reference this checklist (PDF), which gives simple guidance on when to stay away from class, internships, and other activities. Please keep the resident staff aware of your symptoms and follow their instructions. The CDC currently recommends that persons with flu symptoms be isolated until 24 hours after resolution of fever.

The CDC provides a useful guide to home care for people with flu. We recommend that ill students follow this advice: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm.

In addition, our program offices are making plans to provide for instructional flexibility if needed, to stay fully aware of local conditions and local public health directives, and to provide students with access to medical care including seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations when they become available. BU’s resident staff members are there for you—use them.

Useful websites:

U.S. Government Clearinghouse for Flu Information: www.flu.gov

Boston University Student Health Services: www.bu.edu/shs

CDC General Swine Flu Information: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm

Home Care Guidance: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm

World Health Organization: www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/

Please do not hesitate to contact Boston University International Programs if you have questions.

More on Health, Safety & Security Abroad

October 29, 2009

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