<p>Yes, romanigypsyeyes. Here is the email we got:</p>
<p>Dear students & parents of students:</p>
<p>The start of the academic year at the University of Michigan is always an exciting time, whether you are coming to campus for the first time or returning for one final year.</p>
<p>As a parent, there are many things to think about and, no doubt, one of them is keeping your son or daughter healthy. </p>
<p>That’s why we are writing to both students and parents to share important information about the H1N1 strain of flu (formerly called swine flu):</p>
<p>The University has prepared throughout the summer to address what public health officials expect to be an increase in the number of cases this fall as students return to classes at the U-M and across the country. </p>
<p>We are requesting the following actions be taken by students: </p>
<p>If you are sick with the flu before coming to campus for the start of classes, please wait until you are fever free for 24 hours before arriving. Please e-mail the Dean of Students to advise us that you will be arriving late (<a href=“mailto:deanofstudents@umich.edu”>deanofstudents@umich.edu</a>). Your residence hall housing assignment will be secure and the Dean of Students Office will notify academic advisers about any absences. </p>
<p>If you get sick during the term please stay in your residence hall room or apartment, away from class and other public areas, until you are fever free for 24 hours. Your instructors are being asked to be flexible in their approach to student absences because of the flu. This self-isolation will give your body time to recuperate and will help prevent the spread of the flu. </p>
<p>If you must miss class, please contact your instructors directly to request an accommodation. In addition, please also notify your academic adviser. If this is not possible, you may contact the Dean of Students Office for assistance. </p>
<p>Please share this information with your parents if they do not receive university e-mails.</p>
<p>How will you know if you have the flu? </p>
<p>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines flu-like illness this way: A fever of 100.4F or greater, plus a cough or sore throat and possibly other symptoms like runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea. Fever is a key factor. </p>
<p>Where do you go to get help if you are sick with the flu on campus? </p>
<p>You may not need to see a physician if your symptoms are mild. When in doubt, come to the University Health Service ([Home</a> | UM University Health Service](<a href=“http://www.uhs.umich.edu/]Home”>http://www.uhs.umich.edu/)). The majority of people who become ill are getting mild to moderate cases of the flu and are recovering fully in a week or less, without any medical intervention. </p>
<p>For ill students staying in their residence hall rooms, the university will make arrangements to provide food to them in their rooms. Residence hall staff will be checking on students regularly and transportation to the University Health Service will be available for those who need to see a physician. There will be very few housing spaces that might be used to quarantine high-risk roommates of ill students. </p>
<p>What else do you need to know? </p>
<p>The best way to stay healthy is to wash you hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water, cough or sneeze into your elbow, and to keep your hands away from your face. </p>
<p>Students through age 24 will be among the first to be offered the opportunity to get the H1N1 vaccine at no charge as soon as it is available later this fall. </p>
<p>Following CDC guidelines University Health Service physicians will not be prescribing the antiviral medication Tamiflu unless there is an underlying health condition (severe asthma, diabetes, HIV disease, immune deficiency) or the individual is considered high risk (pregnant or over age 65). </p>
<p>Hand sanitizer will be more available in the common areas of campus buildings and facilities this year.</p>
<p>You may e-mail additional questions to: <a href=“mailto:fluquestions@umich.edu”>fluquestions@umich.edu</a>. We will do our best to provide answers or point you toward the appropriate resources. </p>
<p>Those of us working on H1N1 preparedness pledge to do our best to keep students healthy and safe and to keep parents informed. </p>
<p>As developments warrant, you can expect additional e-mail messages. We also have developed several Web pages with links to the latest advice from medical experts at the U-M and from agencies like the CDC and the World Health Organization.</p>
<hr>
<p>The hype here died down around three months ago as well, however as Fall approaches it is picking back up. (Clearly! XD) There have been a bunch of stories about it on the news again. I am not really more worried about it than I would be about a regular flu, but I do worry about having to miss class and the flu and asthma compounding and sending me to the hospital. That would cost a fortune and is not entirely unlikely with any flu virus, I just appear to be ten times as likely to get this one. I am usually pretty good at avoiding the flu. :</p>