University of Mississippi Swine Flu Statement

University of Mississippi health and medical personnel have been in contact with the Mississippi Department of Health and have developed a testing and treatment plan, should they see any patients (students, faculty or staff) exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

Treatment: The course of treatment for swine flu is the same as for any other type of influenza, so anyone presenting themselves with flu-like symptoms at the Student or Employee Health centers can immediately begin treatment. UM has medications to treat any type of flu, and experts recommend treating any flu cases promptly.

Flu symptoms: fever over 100 degrees, sore throat, cough, stuffy now, chills, headache, body ache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

Testing: UM Health Center staff can tell patients whether they have flu, or not, with a routine swab test during their office visit. However, the test does not differentiate between type A or B, or identify the swine variant. Determining whether a patient has swine flu takes 7-10 days, as samples must be sent to Atlanta for testing.

At this time, experts recommend treating any flu cases promptly, rather than waiting for test results to determine type of flu strain.

Prevention: UM Student and Employee Health professionals agree that the increase in cases of swine flu in the United States is not cause for alarm but does call for caution, utilizing these preventive measures:

    1. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water often, or with alcohol-based hand gels

    2. Cover your mouth whenever sneezing or coughing

    3. Avoid contact with ill people

    4. If you are sick, avoid contact with other people to minimize their risk of contracting your illness

    5. Follow the Centers for Disease Control’s health and travel advisories

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