Letter to Students

August 13, 2009

Dear Brandeis Student,

As you know, there is concern that the H1N1 (swine flu) that appeared last spring will recur this fall as students return to their campuses. Here at Brandeis, we had no flu cases last spring and our Emergency Preparedness Team has been  planning over the summer to  minimize the flu’s impact here and plan for contingencies should it arrive. We are asking you and your family to help us in that task as we welcome you to campus. Here are some things you can do to help prevent the spread of the flu at Brandeis University.

Practice standard preventive measures.

  • Wash your hands often and/or use alcohol based hand cleaners.
  • Don’t share drinks, cooking utensils, cigarettes, cosmetics.
  • Refrain from touching your face, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • If you cough or sneeze use a tissue or cough into your sleeve.

If you are ill in late August with what appears to be the flu, please do not come to school until at least 24 hours after you are well, i.e. fever gone, off Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.

If you become ill after you arrive, call the Brandeis University Health Center, 63677.

Symptoms of the flu include:
  • sudden onset of fever greater than 100 degrees
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • headache
  • muscle aches
Get vaccinated when seasonal (regular) flu vaccine becomes available—we hope in early October. Get vaccinated again with the newly developed H1N1 flu vaccine.  We expect this will be available in late fall and will be a two shot series. Bring a thermometer to campus and have a supply of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen on hand.

Our team has been in frequent contact with the Massachusetts Public Health Department (MDPH) and the CDC. We have considered the need to isolate affected students. We do not anticipate the need to close the school but may, at some point, need to recommend limiting large gatherings.

Though this new flu has affected younger people more than the seasonal flu, the vast majority have done well. We will continue to update the campus community and the parent community on our efforts to address the H1N1 flu into the fall. The websites of the MDPH, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and the CDC are authoritative and have frequent and informative updates.

We wish you all a healthy and productive rest of the summer and are looking forward to your arrival.

Dr. Debra Poaster
Director, Brandeis University Health Center
Emergency Preparedness Team at Brandeis