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Information on the H1N1 Virus

As international concerns regarding the H1N1 virus continue to grow, we would like to inform you of the steps Franklin College is taking to address the issue on our campus. Currently, no cases have been reported at Franklin. However, we are taking many precautions to help protect students and help us avoid a widespread outbreak of the virus within the Franklin community.

We are currently in contact with health authorities in Switzerland and are closely monitoring the presence of the virus within Switzerland. It is important to note that the H1N1 vaccination was developed in Switzerland and that Switzerland will be among the first countries to receive the vaccination. However, this in not expected until mid-autumn after you have arrived at Franklin.

Information regarding the H1N1 virus will be distributed to all students upon their arrival at Franklin. Additionally, information about prevention will be posted on campus. Any student experiencing flu-like symptoms will be encouraged to contact the College Nurse immediately. She will then assist the student in getting immediate and proper medical attention.

Throughout campus, we will be setting up hand-sanitizing stations, as washing hands is among the leading precautionary measures. We also encourage students to bring bottles of a hand sanitizer and over the counter medications like Tylenol and Ibuprofen. While hand sanitizers, analgesics and antipyretics are available in Switzerland, they tend to be more expensive here than elsewhere. If possible, we also encourage students to get and fill a prescription for an anti-viral medication before arriving at Franklin. In the event that the virus has been diagnosed and confirmed, the student can begin taking the medication immediately which is known to significantly lessen the symptoms.

As with most illnesses, prevention is the best medicine. Some of the following steps are recommended to help prevent the contraction of the H1N1 virus:

Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.
Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Use an anti-bacterial hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Germs are easily spread this way.
Contact a medical professional immediately if you are experiencing signs or symptoms of the flu.

The health and wellness of our students continues to be our top priority. Do not hesitate to contact Laura Thompson, Assistant Dean of Student Development, at lthompson@fc.edu if you have questions or concerns. While there is no immediate threat to the health and safety of students returning to Franklin, we knew you would appreciate knowing the precautions and steps we are taking to reduce the impact the H1N1 virus has on our community. At this time our first responsibility is to inform the campus community how to minimize the likelihood of contracting and spreading the H1N1 virus, and to let everyone living and working at Franklin know how they can help us with these efforts.

Swiss Federal Office of Public Health Flu Site

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