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Seasonal and swine flu information and advice
Flu Information
 

Title: Contact Details
Student Health
Tel: 028 9036 6138

  Seasonal and swine flu advice and guidance
University advice and guidance concerning flu for students, staff and visitors

Page last reviewed and updated: 14 November 2011 at 11.39am

Flu information for Staff, Students and Visitors

It is now the annual flu season and there has been an increase in the number of people with swine and seasonal flu. However, the number of cases has not reached pandemic level and the University is operating as normal. The University is committed to the well-being of its staff, students and visitors and you are encouraged to visit the information pages below to help protect yourself and others from flu. For information on the signs and symptoms of flu, please consult the first two websites below:

Staff, students and visitors will be informed via this website of any amendments to normal routines that may be required if the flu situation changes. The following content is relevant:

Practice good hygiene

Influenza (flu) mainly spreads from person to person through close contact. Coughing and sneezing within a metre or so of another person can expose them to infectious droplets. Hands can become contaminated through touching someone who is unwell, or through touching door handles or other hard surfaces contaminated with the virus. If you then touch your mouth before washing your hands you can catch the infection.

Personal hygiene can affect the spread of the virus. As a precaution, please ensure that you practice respiratory and hand hygiene including:

  • Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
  • Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully and not leaving them in public places
  • Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example, washing hands frequently with soap and water following the step-by-step guide opposite to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people. Please note the advice carried in the clip is generic and taps and hand-drying options vary in different locations
  • Making sure children follow this advice
  • Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.

If you have a Student Health enquiry relating to flu please contact the University Student Health Advisor on +44 (0)28 9036 6138.

Flu information for Students

Although there have been a significant number of flu infections in the UK it is important to note that the risk of catching the infection on campus or within the Halls of Residence is no higher than for anywhere else.

It is important to remember that for the vast majority of people, flu is a relatively mild illness that can be treated at home with rest, drinking plenty of fluids and taking medicine, such as paracetamol, as directed, to control the symptoms. If symptoms don't improve within two or three days, or if you have a high temperature and breathing difficulties, you should contact your GP or the GP out-of-hours service (the relevant out-of-hours number should be available via your GP's telephone number).

Can I still attend studies?

  • This will depend on the University stance taken to any infection. The latest guidance provided would suggest that unless you are suffering from any symptoms, or have been instructed otherwise, you should carry on as normal.

What if I become ill?

  • If you experience flu-like symptoms you should consult your GP. If you do have flu, you should stay at home until fully recovered. Please make sure to follow your course requirements on reporting absence. These can be found in your course handbook.

FAQ's for all students including those who live in University of Ulster controlled accommodation (Halls of Residence)

Question and answer information for all students including those who live in University of Ulster controlled accommodation (Halls of Residence) has been developed to give guidance and reassurance to students who may be concerned.

How do I protect myself from or the spread of flu?

The best thing to do is to follow good hygiene practices. This involves:

  • Washing your hands with soap and water or a sanitiser gel often.
  • Always carrying tissues.
  • Using clean tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
  • Binning the tissues after one use

What else can I do to prepare for the spread of Flu?

  • Ensure that you are registered with a doctor locally.
  • It would be useful for residents to set up a network of 'flu buddies'. These are friends or neighbours who can help each other if they become ill. For example, they could collect medicines, food and other supplies for you so that you don't have to leave home if you are ill.

What should I do if I am feeling unwell and exhibiting flu-like symptoms?

  • Stay in your room.
  • You or your 'flu buddy' should contact either your GP or University Health Centre for advice.
  • Notify the Accommodation Office who will seek appropriate advice.

What do I tell other students sharing the communal facilities?

  • Advise them to speak to the Accommodation Officer for guidance. Each case will be different, and the advice from the NHS and the Health Protection Agency continues to change and evolve.
  • Your Accommodation Officer will be able to obtain the latest information and give specific guidance.

If someone in my flat or hall contracts flu, will I be issued with anti-viral drugs?

  • At the current level of infection this is unlikely, unless you and your flat mates are suffering from flu-like symptoms. The decision to issue these drugs will be made by the Health Protection Agency and/or the NHS.
  • The current advice from the Health Protection Agency and NHS is that a system of 'flu buddies' should exist to provide support to those who may have contracted the virus and are advised to remain in their room.
  • This support may involve preparing food, collecting and distributing medication or liaising with the University and medical services.

If a case is confirmed, will the University close the Hall of Residence?

  • Student accommodation has not been closed following other outbreaks of flu.
  • We will only do this if instructed to do so by the Health Protection Agency.

If the Hall is closed, how will this affect me?

  • This will very much depend on the advice given to us by the Health Protection Agency.

If I am feeling unwell, should I go home?

  • There are no hard and fast rules here, but if you are contagious you may infect a greater number of people than if you remained in your room. The best advice is to seek medical guidance from your GP or the Health Centre on campus.

What if I am pregnant, or suffer from a medical condition that could make me more vulnerable to the virus?

  • Seek advice from your medical practitioner.
  • Inform your Accommodation Officer so that this can be taken into consideration.

Staff, students and visitors will be informed via this website of any amendments to normal routines that may be required if the flu situation changes.

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What is the advice for staff who think they may have flu?

If you experience flu-like symptoms you should consult your GP. If you do have flu, you should stay at home until fully recovered. The period of absence will be treated as sickness absence. As normal for periods of absence of one to seven days a self certified sickness absence form should be completed on return to work. For periods of greater than seven days a medical certificate will be required.

If a member of staff arrives at work with flu symptoms or becomes unwell at work they should be sent home by their Line Manager. This period of absence will be treated as sickness absence and the sickness absence policy will apply.

If a member of staff has to take time off to care for a family member with flu-like symptoms, they should inform their line manager. There are a range of options available e.g. temporary flexible working, working from home, family responsibility leave of up to five days, annual leave, parental leave or unpaid leave.

Staff would be expected to follow normal departmental rules on reporting absences unless alternative arrangements to lessen burdens on working staff are considered appropriate. In most cases, this would be reporting in by telephone on the first day of absence with an estimated date of return. If a return date cannot be given, further contact should be made. Managers should ensure that they are aware of when future contact is expected and departments should have in place contingency plans for when expected contact is not made, particularly for a member of staff who lives alone.

Managers or staff seeking additional advice on specific circumstances should contact their Human Resources Adviser or Occupational Health as appropriate.

  • Occupational Health Adviser (Jordanstown and Belfast): 028 9036 8375
  • Occupational Health Adviser (Coleraine and Magee): 028 7032 4335 / 028 7032 3350

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Groups most at risk

The following groups of people have been identified as particularly at risk:
  • Pregnant women
  • Those with chronic lung, kidney or heart disease
  • Those with neurological disease (including motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's)
  • Those with lower immune systems
  • Diabetes sufferers
  • Asthma sufferers (particularly those who have been treated in the past three years).

Staff and students in these groups who are concerned should speak to their GP about vaccination, as appropriate. The best strategy to reduce the risk of becoming infected is to follow good hygiene practices.

Staff, students and visitors will be informed via this website of any amendments to normal routines that may be required if the flu situation changes.
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What is the advice for travellers?

You can receive an update on the latest flu and travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at: www.fco.gov.uk under the 'Travel and Living Abroad' section.

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