Flu season has arrived early across the country and in Pennsylvania and Duquesne University Health Service (DUHS) urges students, faculty and staff to take preventive measures to protect their health.
Cases of influenza are expected to increase throughout the flu season. Because flu can spread quickly by contact with people who are ill, Duquesne University Health Service recommends that community members take these precautions:
- Get a flu shot! Contact DU Health Service for information about obtaining a Flu shot.
- Proper and frequent hand washing is one of the single most important preventative measures you can take. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after touching common surfaces such as door handles.
- Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing with either a disposable tissue or a sleeve, and avoid touching your face.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluid to keep the immune system working at its best.
- Monitor your health. Flu symptoms include a fever with cough, body aches, and sometimes sore throat, runny nose, headache, vomiting or diarrhea.
What to do if sick with the flu:
Students with flu symptoms should stay home. Ill students should limit contact with others who are not sick. Those with flu-like symptoms should not return to class until they no longer have a fever (a temperature of less than 100.0 F) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Students with the flu should contact their academic advisor for further direction as soon as possible and let them know they have the flu. Read the policy on absences from class.
Resident students who are ill also may contact their resident assistant or resident director for assistance.
Students should seek medical attention if they have acute symptoms such as body aches, cough or a fever of more than 100.5. Students should call DUHS and schedule an appointment. They should talk with the doctor or one of Duquesne’s practioners during their appointment about appropriate medicine to treat flu or flu-like symptoms.
If students get worse after being on the medication for three or four days, they should come back to the DUHS to have their lungs rechecked to make sure they have not developed a secondary infection. Those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, or complications should call the Duquesne University Health Service at 412-396-1650.
Where to find health care:
The Duquesne University Health Center, on the 2nd Floor of the Student Union Building, is open Mondays-Fridays from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Students should call 412.396.1650 to make an appointment. If students need assistance after hours, they have several options: While on campus, contact your resident director for assistance or Campus Police at 412.396.2677. They will assist you in obtaining the health care that you require.
If a student has an emergency, please call campus police at 412.396.2677, call 911 or go to a hospital:
Our goal is for all of our students to have a productive and healthy semester.
There are many resources on campus available to support students. Please don’t hesitate to contact Duquesne University Health Service with questions or concerns at 412.396.1650.