Student Health Services

Flu and H1N1 Information

H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu Information) (links to the Centers for Disease Control Web site)

"Take 3" Steps to Fight the Flu (PDF, 754KB)

Protecting Yourself Against the Flu

If you are experiencing respiratory distress, please call 911 immediately for assistance.

For detailed information about the flu or the H1N1 virus, please visit our Web site at www.csuci.edu/fighttheflu.

To protect yourself against the flu:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and throw the tissue in the trash after using it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are being treated for a chronic disease or are currently pregnant, you should discuss preventative measures with your personal physician.

Symptoms you should watch for:

High fever (over 100 degrees)
Dry cough
Muscle aches
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Runny or stuffy nose
Sore throat
Vomiting
Sometimes diarrhea

See the chart below for some of the differences between symptoms of flu and the common cold. Source: http://www.tamiflu.com/about/coldflu.aspx.

Symptom	Cold	Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms:

You may call the Student Health & Counseling Center’s main reception desk at (805) 437-8828 for assistance. Be prepared to tell the receptionist:
- what your measured temperature is;
- what your symptoms are; and
- how long you have been sick.

If you are sick, we recommend that you:

Stay home or otherwise isolate yourself for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medications) except to get medical care. This will help the virus from spreading to others.
Keep away from others as much as possible. If you live on campus, notify your resident assistant that you are sick or not feeling well. You may even want to ask your parents to pick you up from campus so that you can continue to recover at home.
Stay in bed and get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Take fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Do not take aspirin.

For non-urgent medical care during the Student Health & Counseling Center's after-hours:

During the 2009/2010 academic session, Student Health Services’ hours are: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

When the Student Health & Counseling Center (SHCC) is closed, the following clinics will provide the same medical care that you would receive at the SHCC. Be sure to present your student ID card before obtaining services.

Magnolia Family Medical Clinic located at: 2240 E. Gonzales Road in Oxnard, (805) 981-5181
Las Islas Family Medical Group located at: 325 W. Channel Islands Blvd. in Oxnard, (805) 483-0198

Flu Vaccines* Still Available!

Student Health Services (SHS) has received a limited number of seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. If you are interested in both vaccines, note that it is possible to receive them at the same time. To inquire about getting vaccinated, you may call SHS at (805) 437-8828. No clinics are scheduled at this time. Vaccines will be administered by appointment only during regular SHS hours. Due to the limited supply, vaccines are only available to CI students, staff and faculty.

What if You Already Had the Flu?

It is still recommended that you get the vaccine. There is no guarantee that people diagnosed with the flu contracted the H1N1 virus. Please consider getting the vaccine to lessen your chances of becoming sick with this flu.

Cost:

The H1N1 flu vaccine is free to students and $2.00 for faculty/staff (exact cash only). This minimal charge helps defray the cost of staffing and supplies for this service. Ventura County Public Health provides free vaccines at their clinic. If you are interested, please see their website at: http://portal.countyofventura.org/portal/page?_pageid=953,4243495&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL.

Who should not be vaccinated:

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These people include:

Those who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
Those who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
Those who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
Children less than six months of age (the influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
Those who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.

Alternate Flu Vaccine Location Information

Visit the Ventura County Public Health site for information regarding their schedule and vaccine availability. You may also contact the Ventura County Public Health office at (805) 981-5221 to listen to a recorded message with updated information. Effective November 2, Public Health clinics are limiting their services to the provision of vaccinations only to accommodate increased demand. CSU Channel Islands Student Health Services cannot provide any additional details about these clinics or their operations.