Information for MRU students

Mount Royal University is continuing to monitor the potential and actual impacts of the seasonal flu and H1N1 situation in our community in conjunction with Alberta Health Services (AHS). As further information becomes available and as the situation changes, we may have to change our processes and responses to certain questions and situations.

Please continue to visit this website for the most up to date information on the seasonal flu and H1N1 information.

What to do if you have H1N1 and you need to miss class or an exam

Confirmation of an H1N1 diagnosis is difficult to confirm at this point, as AHS made a decision in the summer to suspend testing for H1N1 and to treat all flu cases as if they are H1N1 given that the symptoms are similar and the severity in most cases is mild to moderate.

If you are ill with flu-like symptoms please stay home. In order to determine the spread of the flu virus on campus and coordinate our institutional response, we need to start tracking flu-related illness. So we ask that you also visit MyMRU , click the Student Resources tab and login to the H1N1 Registration box to register as ill.

When your symptoms are gone and you return to class, please login to the Registry again and record your return date. If the return day is not filled in within 10 days from your registration in the system, you may get a follow-up call from the University to determine if you are still ill.

Please contact your appropriate professor/s for details about missing exams or classes where attendance is tracked. If you have further questions you can contact the Chair person of the Public Health Response Committee:

Jane O’Connor
Chairperson
403.440.6927
joconnor@mtroyal.ca

Staying home with the flu

• If you have questions call Health Link Alberta for advice before visiting a physician’s office, medicentre or accessing an emergency room.
  • Health Link Alberta: Toll-free 1.866.408.LINK (5465)
  • Health Link Alberta: In Calgary, call 403.943.LINK (5465)
• Practice self care including avoiding others, coughing into your sleeve, increased hand washing and rest.
• Monitor your symptoms and seek medical attention if your symptoms are not improving by calling Health Link Alberta.
• Login to MyMRU (Student Resources tab) and register as ill

If you have been recently in contact with someone with the flu

• Continue with your regular activity, unless you are displaying influenza-like symptoms or if you have been otherwise advised by your healthcare provider.
• Monitor yourself and your family for symptoms of influenza illness
• Practice self care at home and at work/school
• If you develop flu-like symptoms — stay home until the symptoms have been resolved

Individuals can call Health Link Alberta at 403-943-LINK (5465) or visit www.healthlinkalberta.ca, 24 hours a day, seven days a week if they have questions or concerns.

What to do if a classmate has influenza-like illness

If the individual’s symptoms are consistent with H1N1 or seasonal flu, advise them to follow the recommendations above. Assist that individual in making alternate arrangements so that academic responsibilities can be fulfilled once they have recovered.

Do I need to advise other students of a possible H1N1 exposure in the classroom?

No. A system of reporting influenza-like illness is being developed for the purpose of reporting any influenza-like illness experiences. Please continue to monitor this website for more information about the system and process for reporting absences from class.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Canada have been generally mild, but illness can be severe for some individuals. The symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza infection and include:

Sudden onset of and new cough or change in existing cough, plus one or more of the following:

• fever (> 38C) – most cases will have a fever
• sore throat
• joint pain
• muscle aches
• severe exhaustion
• lack of appetite
• Some people may have a runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in addition to a cough and fever symptoms.