Seems like the summer is unusual time to think about Flu but Fall quarter is right around the corner! It’s never too early to start planning and revisiting important steps you can take to increase awareness and prevention. We learned a lot from last year’s flu pandemic and plan to (again) work closely with campus and community partners to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. We plan to keep you updated with new information as it becomes available to us.

Here are a few things you can do NOW to increase your own awareness and practice prevention:

• Plan to get vaccinated when vaccine becomes available. Have questions about whether or not you should be vaccinated e.g. are you high risk? Talk with your Ashe Center Primary Care Provider (PCP). Generally, people at higher risk for flu complications include children younger than 5 years (especially children younger than 2 years old), pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information on people at higher risk for flu complications, visit People at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications. All currently registered UCLA students can obtain a flu shot from the Ashe Center by scheduling an appointment or visiting one of our Flu Fairs – visit the Ashe Center website and join our Facebook page for the latest flu information and updates.
• Practice respiratory etiquette. Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are spread this way.
• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand rubs also are useful.
• Plan to create your own flu packs. Instructions for how you can “create your own” flu packs are also available at the Ashe Center and throughout the H1N1 section of our website.
• Familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of the flu. Feeling sick? Use the Ashe Center Self-Screening Questionnaire to help you self-assess. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feel very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering. Symptoms of flu can also include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and tiredness. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
• Educate yourself about class absence policies. The start of classes is just around the corner so know what to expect and learn what’s expected of you now. Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medicines (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Don't go to class or work.
• Take advantage of automated Ashe Center procedures when possible. Obtaining a verification of illness or disability, test results, &/or general information can be accessed on the Ashe Center website, www.studenthealth.ucla.edu by clicking the appropriate link from under the “Online Requests” the section, by logging onto the secure Ashe Patient Portal e.g. sending your PCP a secure message, or by emailing us from under the “Contact Us” section, respectively.

We’ll keep you up-to-date as new information presents itself - we’ve already started to touch base with campus partners to review what worked last year and plan for the upcoming Flu season. For the most up-to-date information on flu, visit Flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).

Still have questions? These links may help:

• Updated Flu Shot Information
• Influenza Self Screening Tool
• Bruin Flu Fighter Info
• Ashe Center Secure Message about Flu
• More Information