Local Area Links and Information

In the event of an emergency , please contact University Police Hotline - 318-357-5431 or 911.

4/30/2009 4:22:45 PM
Statement from Northwestern State University Health Services
The CDC has issued a health alert regarding Swine Flu in the United States. There are no confirmed or suspected cases reported in Louisiana at this time. However, there are 40 confirmed cases in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, California, and New York that have resulted in mild illnesses, but no deaths. The greatest probable threat to our campus community is related to travel in these states or one of the other countries experiencing an outbreak of Swine Flu. For those who have recently traveled or have plans to travel, we would like to provide you with the following links for more detailed information about the outbreak. In addition, please make note of the signs and symptoms associated with Swine Flu and seek medical attention if you experience any febrile upper respiratory illness. If you have questions, we will be available at 318-357-5351.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Links to more information can be found on the Health Services website Resource page at

http://www.nsula.edu/student_services/health/resources.asp

4/30/2009 4:21:18 PM
Statement from Northwestern State University Provost
Dear Northwestern Students and Colleagues,

On Sunday, April 26, the United States declared a national public health emergency regarding the Swine Influenza (Flu).

The University continues to monitor the incidents of H1N1virus (Swine Flu) worldwide, working with state health officials. At this time, the events occurring at Cathedral Carmel School in Lafayette have no known connection to any university. As such, all operations at Northwestern are continuing as usual.

Northwestern is carefully monitoring incidents of swine flu in the United States and other countries. While there have been no reported cases of the Swine Flu in Louisiana as of this morning, I ask that you please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm for safety tips and news regarding the flu.

Students experiencing flu-like symptoms are encouraged to visit the University’s Health Service office in the Infirmary Building (University Police). Faculty and staff should contact their personal physicians.

If diagnosed with any type of flu, University community members are encouraged to stay home from work or school and limit their contact with others. Northwestern has a plan in place that it will follow, but circumstances have not warranted moving beyond the initial monitoring stage
Anyone who is planning international travel should check with the U.S. Department for State at: www.state.gov/ http://www.state.gov.

Northwestern will post any updates on the situation to the university’s Home page at www.nsula.edu.
Thank you for your continued attention and cooperation.

Thomas Hanson
Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs

4/30/2009 4:09:19 PM
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. A Phase 5 alert is a “strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.”

The United States Government has declared a public health emergency in the United States. CDC’s response goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency. CDC is issuing and updating interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak. The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against this new virus.