Did you miss out on receiving your flu vaccine? Join the health center staff on Friday to help keep our campus healthy this flu season. The health center will hold another flu clinic on Friday, October 24, in Christie Hall lobby, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. If you are unable to make the flu clinic you may also call the health center at 7134 and schedule a time to be vaccinated. For additional information visit the CDC website at http://tinyurl.com/lh5n28e.
University Health Center
Let’s Get Off To A Healthy Start
The University Health Center would like to offer a few reminders to help faculty, staff, and students stay healthy.
A fever is a sign of illness. If you have a fever you need to be at home to prevent sharing your illness. If you are ill with a fever it is recommended you contact your health care provider. Students should be encouraged to call the health center for advice. Ebola has been in the news frequently after a prolonged outbreak in Africa. If you or someone you know develops a fever after travel to West Africa, please call your health care provider for advice.
This is also a good time to make sure you are up to date on your immunizations. Check with your health care provider to see if you need additional vaccinations.
Watch for the flu vaccination clinics on campus coming in October. Protecting yourself will help to keep our campus healthy and our classrooms full of healthy learners.
Hand washing is an effective tool to help reduce the spread of disease.
For additional information on how to stop the spread of illness, visit http://tinyurl.com/l4gw6cf, or contact the health center at 7134 or health@up.edu.
Don’t Take Measles Lightly
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease and a confirmed case has been reported here in Portland, according to Susan Chisum, health center. The Multnomah County Health Department suggests that if you or a family member are susceptible to measles and were at Portland International Airport between 7:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday, March 24, you should watch for symptoms through April 14. The symptoms of measles generally begin about 7-14 days after a person is infected, and include blotchy rash, fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes (conjunctivitis), feeling run down and achy (malaise), or tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots).
Measles poses the highest risk to those who haven’t been vaccinated, especially pregnant women, infants younger than 1 year, and people with weakened immune systems. It is never too late to receive the vaccination to protect yourself and those around you. If you are unsure of your immunization status or that of someone in your family, the health department suggests contacting your health-care provider.
Have questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine? Call your primary care provider or local county health department:
- Clackamas County Public Health: 503-655-8411
- Clark County Public Health: 360-397-8182
- Mult. County Public Health: 503-988-3406
- Wash. County Public Health: 503-846-3594.
An Ounce of Prevention
Pick any adult out of a crowd and the odds are he or she had chicken pox as a child. Since 1995, with the availability of the chicken pox vaccine, the odds are changing. Now many children have received the vaccination preventing this itchy virus. If you never had chicken pox as a child and have not been vaccinated, you are putting yourself and members of the University community at risk. Chicken pox is a contagious disease spread by airborne or close contact with an infectious person. An outbreak in a university setting could last 4 to 5 months. While the illness itself typically lasts 2 weeks, the incubation period for those exposed is 10 to 21 days. For students, faculty, and staff, exclusion from activities at the University has academic and financial repercussions. Be proactive and prevent a potential outbreak by getting vaccinated as soon as possible. Contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or the University health center for additional information (7134 or health@up.edu).