Questions and Information About the Flu

With the current swine flu outbreak in the headlines and rising concerns about the risk of an influenza pandemic, all of us need to remember the basics that can help boost our immunity and prevent and contain the spread of upper respiratory illnesses.

Updated by the Davidson College Student Health Service 8/04/09

What is the ordinary flu?
Influenza (the flu) is an acute viral illness with a rapid rather than gradual onset of fever, headache, body aches, sore throat, cough and fatigue. Acute symptoms generally last 5-7 days, but cough, fatigue and diminished appetite may last several weeks longer. The body's immune system cures most viral illnesses, including the flu. Most people recover uneventfully, but the flu can put the very young, the elderly and the chronically ill at risk for complications and even death.

Do humans develop immunity to the flu?
Seasonal flu viruses are constantly changing so that no one ever becomes fully immune, therefore influenza vaccines are updated every year, and an annual vaccination is recommended for anyone wishing to reduce their chances of acquiring the illness. The minor changes in the seasonal influenza virus are referred to as “antigenic drift”.

What is a pandemic?
The word "pandemic" refers to a disease that affects an entire country or continent or the entire world. It occurs when there is a major change in the surface antigens of the influenza virus or "antigenic shift" resulting in a type of flu to which humans have no immunity.
There have been 10 pandemics in the past 300 years and three within the past 100 years. The 1918 "Spanish Flu" was a major pandemic. The 1957 Asian Flu and 1968 Hong Kong Flu were milder pandemics, so many people did not realize that it was anything other than a normal seasonal flu. In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel influenza A (H1N1) a pandemic due to the worldwide spread of the virus. Since the declaration, H1N1 has continued to spread.

How the flu spreads
Normal seasonal influenza, swine flu and other respiratory viruses are usually spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The flu can also be spread via contact with objects that have been contaminated with the flu virus such as:

• door handles
• telephones
• keyboards
• faucets

A person then touches his mouth, eyes or nose and the virus starts reproducing in the mucous membranes.

Once the flu (or any other viral illness) is seen it is difficult to contain an outbreak within the classroom and dormitory setting (or anywhere there are large numbers of people confined to small areas), as someone with the flu can be contagious for 1-2 days prior to the onset of illness and for about 5 to 7 days after symptoms begin.

Back to Top

Staying healthy
Healthy students can decrease their chances of contracting the flu and many other illnesses by following these guidelines:

• Keep your resistance up by eating a balanced diet and getting adequate sleep and exercise. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Keep a distance of three feet or more from a person who is visibly ill with coughing and sneezing.
• Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer after handling potentially dirty or contaminated surfaces. 
• Use a paper towel or your elbow to turn off the faucet after hand washing as   viruses may live on surfaces for two hours or more. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Get an annual flu shot. This will not protect you from pandemic influenza, but this is your best option for preventing seasonal flu.

Symptoms of swine flu
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of the regular flu:

• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, malaise and fatigue
• Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported with the swine flu.

If you (the student) develop the above symptoms, particularly after recent travel (within the last 10 days) or exposure to someone who is ill with swine flu (H1N1), you should report to the Student Health Center.  For additional information about swine flu see  H1N1 Flu and You.

Back to Top

What if the seasonal flu or swine flu hits campus?
A few simple measures can be effective in reducing the transmission of infection. ill students should be considerate of classmates and remember the following recommendations:

• Students who have been diagnosed with the flu are asked not to attend class as long as they are running a fever.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes and throw away contaminated tissues promptly. -- If a tissue is not available, sneeze into your shoulder or sleeve.
• Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer frequently.

What if I get the flu?
In the past the Student Health Center has offered prescriptions for Tamiflu to those who test positive for seasonal influenza. Antiviral drugs can diminish the symptoms of the flu and may shorten the course of the flu by a day, but they must be started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Currently the CDC is recommending Tamiflu treatment for H1N1 influenza in patients who are at risk of complications due to underlying illnesses. Many patients who have had novel influenza H1N1 infections but are not in a high-risk group have had a self-limited respiratory illness similar to seasonal influenza. The Student Health Center staff will consult with the local health department for recommendations for the use of Tamiflu for treatment and for prophylaxis as the situation evolves.

 Self Care

• Drink lots of liquids (at least two quarts or approximately one glass every two hours) -- fruit juice, soda, tea, soups, etc. This will help loosen nasal and chest secretions and help relieve your sore throat. It will also help you generally feel better and recover more easily if you stay well-hydrated.
• You may take Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or other anti-inflammatories (with food) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for muscle aches, headache, sore throat and fever. Teenagers should not take aspirin during a viral illness, as there is a link between the use of aspirin and Reye's Syndrome (a rare but serious illness).
• You may also use other medications as needed such as throat lozenges, over-the-counter cough preparations, decongestants, etc.
• Antibiotics are of no use in the treatment of the flu and other viral illnesses. Though the flu may make you very uncomfortable, the majority of people recover from it uneventfully.
• A few people may experience a complication such as pneumonia or a sinus infection and should consult with a health care provider if their illness is not following the normal course.

The above guidelines apply to respiratory illnesses, including normal seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza. Since influenza viruses frequently mutate, the specific characteristics of the new pandemic virus--including clinical manifestation, risk to different age groups, and care specific to that virus--may change as the virus spreads. Davidson College and the Student Health Center will be continually monitoring CDC, WHO and state and local health department postings and will make new information available with more specific recommendations for pandemic influenza if it should evolve further. This information may include more specific information on periods of contagion, the age groups most at risk, specific treatment measures and further recommendations such as "social avoidance" to slow the transmission of pandemic influenza.

 Back to Top

For more information on seasonal flu, swine flu or pandemic influenza you can refer to the following Web sites:

Center for Disease Control
World Health Organization
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
NC Department of Health and Human Services