Swine flu: What to do

If you're fearing the swine, don't forget to get your free seasonal flu shot at the University's Flu Fest clinic, which takes place September 23-24 and October 12.Health authorities have said that they're no longer doing regular lab tests to determine if someone has H1N1 flu, so anyone with flu-like symptoms will be asked to follow the same guidelines, University spokesperson Emily Aronson said."We've always offered the flu clinic, but the date is earlier this year," Aronson said. "That's part of the CDC guidance --they're encouraging any organization that provides flu shots to do so as early as possible so that the population receives the vaccination for seasonal flu."After the jump, what happens when you start feeling swiney --and what to do when your roommate gets sick.Immediately call Health Services (609-258-3141) if you start feeling flu symptoms, Aronson says --don't go to McCosh. "In case they do have the flu, we don't want them to infect other people," Aronson said. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and body aches.As with any illness, if you're diagnosed with the flu, you'll be asked to self-isolate in your room while you're sick and for at least 24 hours after your fever disappears (without any help from Tylenol). If you live within driving distance from campus, you might be asked to isolate yourself at home. If you're stuck in your room at school, you should wear a face mask when anyone is in the room and be diligent about covering your mouth and disinfecting common surfaces, Aronson said. Masks can be obtained from UHS or your residential college office.Undergraduates can contact their residential college's Director of Student Life if they need help with dining or residential arrangements during their self-isolation, as students who are sick will not be permitted to enter dining halls, according to the University's swine flu website.Contrary to a recent NYT article, unlucky roommates won't be able to temporarily move out --you'll have to suck it up and OD on the Emergen-C, or move into a friend's common room. Unless you have a pre-existing medical condition, that is."We recognize that those students might be at higher risk for developing complications from flu. University Housing has designated a handful of rooms where well students who demonstrate that they may be at higher risk of flu complications can be temporarily relocated if their roommate becomes sick with the flu," Aronson said.Undergraduates with pre-existing conditions, including asthma, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, can contact their Director of Student Life to request to be temporarily moved. Petitions will be evaluated on a case by case basis by University Health and Housing administrators.If you're not sure if you qualify, ask UHS, which is trying to keep a list of students with pre-existing medical conditions who may need additional support in a full pandemic situation, Aronson says. If you think you should be on the list, you can confidentially contact UHS by email."We're also trying to emphasize to all people on campus --if you become diagnosed with flu, inform all of your close contacts that you have the flu," Aronson said. "Because there's someone you may have had interaction with who does have a pre-existing medical condition who needs to know that they could have been exposed to someone with the flu."