H1N1 Flu Advisory for Faculty, Staff and Students

Dear BUSM Faculty, Staff and Students:

As we begin the fall semester, please note that all faculty, students and staff with flu-like illness should stay away from classes and limit interactions with other people (“self-isolation”) for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever.

Medical and dental students and faculty and staff with patient care responsibilities must isolate themselves for 7 days or 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is later. Most students with mild flu symptoms do not need to visit their doctor.

Students who have a medical condition* that puts them at increased risk of severe illness from flu, are concerned about their illness, or develop severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing should seek medical attention or call Student Health.
Should students arrive for class presenting flu-like symptoms, they should be sent home and told to contact their physicians or Student Health Services via phone (353-3575) if they are experiencing severe symptoms.

Should a member of the faculty experience these symptoms, they should contact his or her health care provider, and then the appropriate dean’s office so that class can be cancelled or coverage can be secured.

Given the potential seriousness of a pandemic, faculty are asked to be flexible regarding this emerging situation.

* Examples of medical conditions that may put students at higher risk for flu complications: asthma, other chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes; immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)

Karen Antman, MD
Provost, Boston University Medical Campus
Dean, School of Medicine
Professor of Medicine