HCHC took a proactive stance to ensure the health and well being of our entire community during the upcoming flu season.

Because the majority of our students do not live in close proximity to Boston, and many are international students, they may not have an opportunity to go home if they become ill.  That situation could become complicated given the close proximity of the quarters in our dormitory if a strain of the flu such as H1N1 appears on the HCHC campus. 

This fall, to protect the public from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus, the federal government provided states with the vaccine and supplies at no cost.  HCHC registered for this service through the Massachusetts Bureau of Infectious Disease Prevention, and our registration was accepted.

HCHC was pleased to hold several clinics to administer the H1N1 vaccine to all interested students and their children living on campus, as well as to our faculty and staff.

The Facts about H1N1

What is H1N1?

• H1N1 is a new virus that has not circulated among humans before.  This virus is different from previous or current human seasonal influenza viruses. 

How is it transmitted? 

• H1N1 is transmitted by inhaling infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing or by touching contaminated hands or surfaces.

What are the symptoms? 

• The symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza, such as fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

What are the risks? 

• H1N1 is currently referred to as "moderate" in severity, with the overwhelming majority of patients recovering within a week of the onset of symptoms.  However, the virus has also caused severe illness and deaths to those groups considered to be "high risk." 
  • High Risk groups include those with existing cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and cancer.

How can we protect ourselves? 

• The best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated.  HCHC recommends that if you are in the high-risk group, you get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. 

• In our DPH application, we requested enough doses to vaccinate all HCHC students (as well their spouses and children who live on campus), faculty and staff.  There will be no charge for this service.
• Wash and sanitize your hands throughout the day, cover your coughs and sneezes and limit unnecessary exposure to classmates that may be ill.
• The current recommendation from public health authorities is that colleges and universities should take measures to isolate flu suffers until at least 24 hours after the fever or other symptoms disappear.

What if I am diagnosed with the flu or H1N1 or have flu-like symptoms? 

• If you have flu-like symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention. 
• If you are diagnosed with the flu or H1N1, students should notify the Director of Housing immediately.
• Facilitate Self-Isolation
  • Those with flu-like illness should stay away from class and the office and limit interactions with other people (called "self-isolation"), except to seek medical care, for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever) without the use of fever-reducing medicines).
  • Those infected will be asked to minimize contacts within the residence halls and to avoid all public places, including classrooms, the library, the Chapel, the computer lab, the gym, administrative and faculty offices, etc
  • The Director of Housing will appoint personnel to deliver meals and to care for those students who have been isolated
  • Students diagnosed with H1N1, who cannot go home, must stay in their room.  Students should wear surgical masks when they must come out of their room (i.e. to go to the restroom)