The holidays often mean bringing people close together for family gatherings and get-togethers, but it’s also an ideal way for illness to spread. Before and during any holiday travel, practicing everyday healthy habits and getting vaccinated can help prevent the spread of flu, says Alicia Bourque, Loyola University New Orleans director of counseling and health services.

“Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the busiest times of the year to travel. Not only will people be exposed to family members they haven’t seen for a while, but it also means close contact with others during travel,” said Bourque. “In order to minimize exposure to the H1N1 flu and the seasonal flu, practicing prevention is the most important thing you can do to stay healthy. It’s also very important to get vaccinated against both types of flu as soon as possible.”

The Centers for Disease Control expects that the 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal flu activity will remain high during the 2009-10 flu season. So far, the CDC says most flu cases this year have been attributed to the 2009 H1N1 flu or “swine flu.” However, officials expect both 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal flu to cause illness, hospital stays and deaths this season.

Bourque offers the following advice to stay healthy during the holidays:

· Get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best protection we have against flu. The seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine are now readily available in several locations throughout Louisiana. Go to http://apps14.dhh.louisiana.gov/h1n1/default.aspx and enter your zip code or parish to get a list of sites that are administering the H1N1 vaccine. Seasonal flu vaccine is also available from many sources including your own doctor or health care provider, or retail outlets in or near your neighborhood.

· Avoid close contact with sick people. The flu is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Keep your distance when possible.

· Wash your hands often. Wash your hands with warm water and soap, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub, even when your hands are not visibly dirty. Other hand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol also may be useful.

· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After coughing or sneezing, throw your used tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper sleeve, not into your hands.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are spread this way.

· Stay informed. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ and http://blogs.loyno.edu/emergency-updates/ for more information and the latest flu updates.

Loyola University New Orleans received an initial shipment of 2,500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine and has been vaccinating students since Friday, Oct. 30. Loyola is also offering the vaccination to select employees and contract staff, ages 25-64, who meet criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control.

Employees with underlying conditions or chronic diseases such as asthma, heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, cancer or immunosuppression; pregnant women; caregivers of infants less than six months old; and healthcare and emergency medical service workers will be eligible for the vaccine.

Students over age 24 who meet the above requirements may also be vaccinated. Students under 24 will continue to be eligible to receive the vaccine, since they are a priority population identified by the CDC. All Loyola community members must show a valid university identification card in order to receive the vaccine. There is no cost to receive the vaccine.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available:

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 3-4 p.m., Student Health Services

Thursday, Nov. 19, 3-4 p.m., Student Health Services

Friday, Nov. 20, 3-4 p.m., Student Health Services

Key Loyola faculty and staff members have been meeting regularly to review CDC and Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health recommendations and guidelines on preventing, identifying and containing the spread of the virus. Loyola is following their instructions to immunize priority populations first. The Loyola community will be notified when employees who do not meet the above conditions may obtain the vaccine.

Flu-like symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills or fatigue. According to Leah Bowers, Student Health Services nurse practitioner, clinic personnel can swab to detect flu on location and can prescribe appropriate medications as needed.

Students and employees who become symptomatic and/or test positive for H1N1 will be asked to leave campus and return home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. If returning home is not an option, sick students will be asked to isolate themselves in their residence hall rooms until they are fever-free for 24 hours, as recommended by the CDC. Residence hall staff will coordinate with Loyola Dining Services to have meals delivered to sick students, and a nurse practitioner will be in daily contact with them to advise on self-care and self-isolation procedures.

For more information on the vaccinations, contact Student Health Services at 504-865-3326. For more information on H1N1, visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

Loyola University New Orleans received an initial shipment of 2,500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine and has been vaccinating students since Friday, Oct. 30. Loyola is also offering the vaccination to select employees and contract staff, ages 25-64, who meet criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control.

Employees with underlying conditions or chronic diseases such as asthma, heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, cancer or immunosuppression; pregnant women; caregivers of infants less than six months old; and healthcare and emergency medical service workers will be eligible for the vaccine.

Students over age 24 who meet the above requirements may also be vaccinated. Students under 24 will continue to be eligible to receive the vaccine, since they are a priority population identified by the CDC. All Loyola community members must show a valid university identification card in order to receive the vaccine. There is no cost to receive the vaccine.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available:

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m., Danna Student Center Art Gallery, across from Satchmo’s

Thursday, Nov. 12, 1-4 p.m., Danna Student Center Art Gallery

Friday, Nov. 13, 3-4 p.m., Student Health Services

Key Loyola faculty and staff members have been meeting regularly to review CDC and Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health recommendations and guidelines on preventing, identifying and containing the spread of the virus. Loyola is following their instructions to immunize priority populations first. The Loyola community will be notified when employees who do not meet the above conditions may obtain the vaccine.

Flu-like symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills or fatigue. According to Leah Bowers, Student Health Services nurse practitioner, clinic personnel can swab to detect flu on location and can prescribe appropriate medications as needed.

Students and employees who become symptomatic and/or test positive for H1N1 will be asked to leave campus and return home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. If returning home is not an option, sick students will be asked to isolate themselves in their residence hall rooms until they are fever-free for 24 hours, as recommended by the CDC. Residence hall staff will coordinate with Loyola Dining Services to have meals delivered to sick students, and a nurse practitioner will be in daily contact with them to advise on self-care and self-isolation procedures.

For more information on the vaccinations, contact Student Health Services at 504-865-3326. For more information on H1N1, visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

Loyola University New Orleans received an initial shipment of 2,500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine and has been vaccinating students since Friday, Oct. 30. Starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, Loyola will offer vaccinations to select employees and contract staff, ages 25-64, who meet criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control.

Loyola University New Orleans has received an initial shipment of 2,500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine and will begin vaccinating students up to age 24 on Friday, Oct. 30 at noon. Loyola is following instructions from the Office of Public Health to immunize priority populations first, specifically people under the age of 24 and those with underlying conditions, during this first disbursement of the vaccine.

Students with a valid university identification card and a driver’s license or other valid form of identification with a birthdate may be vaccinated on a first come, first serve basis in the Danna Student Center Gallery, in the basement across from Satchmo’s.  There is no charge for the vaccine.

The H1N1 vaccine will be available on Friday from noon-2 p.m., and 3-5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 2, from 5-7 p.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 3, from noon-7 p.m.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, Loyola employees and contract staff with underlying conditions such as pregnancy, asthma and other chronic diseases will be eligible for the vaccine. More information regarding the time of administration will be released next week.

Key Loyola faculty and staff members have been meeting regularly to review Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health recommendations and guidelines on preventing, identifying and containing the spread of the virus.

Flu-like symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills or fatigue. According to Leah Bowers, Student Health Services nurse practitioner, clinic personnel can swab to detect flu on location and can prescribe appropriate medications as needed. Students who become symptomatic and/or test positive for H1N1 will be asked to leave campus residences and return home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. If returning home is not an option, sick students will be asked to isolate themselves in their residence hall rooms until they are fever-free for 24 hours, as recommended by the CDC. Residence hall staff will coordinate with Loyola Dining Services to have meals delivered to sick students, and a nurse practitioner will be in daily contact with them to advise on self-care and self-isolation procedures.

For more information on the vaccinations, contact  Student Health Services at 504-865-3326. For more information on H1N1, visit the Centers for Disease Control Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

Loyola University New Orleans reports no current cases of H1N1 (swine) Flu. To date, Loyola has confirmed 28 cases of H1N1.

Loyola University’s Director for Counseling and Health Services has applied to receive the H1N1 vaccine through Louisiana’s Office of Public Health. As of this date, the Office of Public Heath has not notified the Director for Counseling and Health Services that the vaccine is available for distribution to the university. As soon as we receive notification of when the vaccine will be received, the university’s H1N1 committee will provide recommendations for its distribution to the Loyola community and will inform the campus of its availability. Read the rest of this entry »

Loyola University New Orleans reports no current cases of H1N1 (swine) Flu.  To date, Loyola has confirmed 27 cases of H1N1.

Loyola University’s Director for Counseling and Health Services has applied to receive the H1N1 vaccine through Louisiana’s Office of Public Health. As of this date, the Office of Public Heath has not notified the Director for Counseling and Health Services that the vaccine is available for distribution to the university. As soon as we receive notification of when the vaccine will be received, the university’s H1N1 committee will provide recommendations for its distribution to the Loyola community and will inform the campus of its availability. Read the rest of this entry »

Loyola University New Orleans reports two current cases of H1N1 (swine) Flu. Both individuals are recovering at home. To date, Loyola has confirmed 27 cases of H1N1.

Through the Louisiana Office of Public Health, Loyola University’s Director for Counseling and Health Services has applied to receive the H1N1 vaccine. As of this date, the Office of Public Heath has not notified the Director for Counseling and Health Services that the vaccine is available for distribution to the university. As soon as we receive notification of when the vaccine will be received, the university’s H1N1 committee will provide recommendations for its distribution to the Loyola community and will inform the campus of its availability. Read the rest of this entry »

Loyola University New Orleans today reports no current cases of H1N1 (swine) Flu. To date, Loyola has confirmed a total of 23 cases of H1N1 Flu.

The Louisiana Office of Public Health is extending the opportunity to receive and administer novel H1N1 vaccine to all interested immunizing health care providers in the state. Loyola University’s Student Health Services has applied to receive the H1N1 vaccine. Once the university receives notification that it has been approved to administer the vaccine, the university’s H1N1 committee will provide recommendations for its distribution to the Loyola community. More details will come at that time. Read the rest of this entry »

Loyola University New Orleans reports two current cases of H1N1 (swine) Flu. Both individuals are recovering at home. To date, Loyola has confirmed 23 cases of H1N1. Read the rest of this entry »