CLAS News Release—October 8, 2009

CLAS Influenza Information

Influenza season has begun and will continue through the fall and winter.  The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is asking that all employees (faculty, staff, TAs and RAs) who are absent from work due to flu-like symptoms complete a form entitled “Absence Form for Flu-Like Illness.”  http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/administration/forms/flu_absence.pdf

The symptoms of influenza include:

• Fever of 100 degrees Farenheit or higher (however, it’s important to note that not everyone with the flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue

If you have these symptoms, the CDC recommends that you stay home and avoid close contact with other people until you’re fever has been gone for 24 hours (without the use of a fever-reducing medication) — that can take four to seven days. People who catch influenza can be contagious for up to a day before they have any symptoms. Once you’re infected, it can take three days for symptoms to appear.

Students who miss class due to influenza-like symptoms should also complete an online illness absence form and return it to their instructors.
http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/forms/H1N1_absence_form.pdf

For more information on influenza, see the University of Iowa Influenza Information web page.
http://www.uiowa.edu/flu/