Message from Chancellor Brady Deaton

To MU Students:

Novel H1N1 influenza ("swine flu") is present at MU. The severity appears to be relatively mild, comparable to the seasonal influenza that occurs every winter, and medical intervention is usually not necessary.

Following the recommendations of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, MU is no longer testing for novel H1N1 influenza.
Below are guidelines to help you know what to do if you become ill and to help the MU medical community respond to the influenza outbreak in an efficient and safe manner.

If you experience symptoms that you suspect may be novel H1N1 influenza (fever, cough, muscle aches), take the following steps:

• Minimize contact with other students. Stay in your residence hall room, Greek house or apartment. DO NOT GO TO CLASS.
  
  
• Call the Student Health Center (882-7481) or your personal physician.
  
  
• Do NOT go to the Student Health Center, or your personal physician's office, without CALLING FIRST. This enables timely and efficient care to be provided to those in need and minimizes the spread of influenza to others.
  
  
• If you have extremely severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you may need treatment at Urgent Care or the Emergency Center.
  
  
• The typical illness lasts 5-7 days. Fever and body aches should be managed by taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If symptoms worsen, contact the Student Health Center or your personal physician. As always, if you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
  
  
• If you have a chronic medical condition, you may be at risk for complications from influenza and should contact the Student Health Center or your personal physician for recommendations.
  • These problems include lung conditions like asthma, heart problems, kidney, liver or blood disorders (including sickle cell disease), diabetes and other metabolic disorders, immune suppression caused by medications or HIV, pregnancy, and medical conditions that may require long-term aspirin therapy.
    
    
• You may return to class or work when your temperature has been less than 100 degrees for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
  
  
• Email your professors to notify them that you will be missing class due to illness.
  
  
• More information, including steps you can take to prevent the spread of influenza, can be found at these Web sites: MU Alert and Flu.gov.