Influenza Information

Wash em cover it stay home

The DePauw University Wellness Center is coordinating with local and state health authorities and emergency planning experts to keep abreast of the most recent developments and recommendations related to the H1N1 influenza virus. A campus influenza response team has been created to bring the expertise of various departments to our planning efforts. The team is headed by Doug Cox, Emergency Management Coordinator and includes Scott Ripple (FAQ from Dr. Ripple), University Physician and Cindy Babington, Vice President for Student Life. The response team consults with representatives from Housing and the Physical Plant as well as other experts on campus.

Please visit the emergency management website for more details on our influenza response plan.  Since we do not yet know what the impact of influenza on our campus will be, these plans represent a framework of resources that will need to be utilized in the best possible way depending on the situation at hand at the time. Therefore they need to be flexible and may not seem as clear as some might expect.

The Wellness Center has treated a small number of students with flu so far this semester. There has been no major outbreak of illness on campus and most flu cases have been relatively mild, requiring only treatment with over-the-counter medications and rest. The State Lab is no longer confirming these cases are H1N1 and has notified medical providers to assume that all recent flu activity is associated with the H1N1 virus.

Flu vaccine has been in short supply this year due to manufacturing and distribution issues. The Wellness Center has run out of seasonal flu vaccine but we have a limited supply of H1N1 vaccine available to all students. The shots are given at the Wellness Center free of charge and no appointment is needed. Our hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 to 5 and Tuesday and Thursday 9 to 12 and 1 to 5.

Since vaccines have been difficult to get this year, we suggest that students not wait for the Wellness Center to get vaccine and that they get vaccinated in the community if they have an opportunity to do so.

We strongly suggest that members of the DePauw community who will be traveling outside of the US stay up to date with the current status of H1N1 influenza in their destination country and communicate with their host organization regarding current travel recommendations.

The Wellness Center is an important resource for information on maintaining the health of our campus. Individuals need to take an active role in educating themselves and taking measures to stay healthy. Updated influenza information and prevention strategies may be found at the CDC's website: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu. Campus related questions can be directed to Dr. Ripple, Director of Health Services and Doug Cox, Director of Emergency Management.