Q. What are symptoms of Seasonal Flu and H1N1 flu?
A. The common symptoms will include the following: Fever, Cough, Sore Throat, Runny and/or Stuffy Nose, Body Aches, Headache, Chills and Fatigue.
Q. Is there medicine to treat the flu?
A. For most healthy adults, medicine is not generally prescribed, but antiviral drugs are available that can treat both seasonal flu and H1N1. These drugs can shorten the duration of illness. They need to be prescribed by a doctor and work best when started during the first 2 days of symptoms. Currently these drugs are expected to be used only for people who require hospitalization or have a chronic medical condition that puts them at high risk for serious flu complications.
Q. How does the flu spread?
A. People that have the flu usually cough, sneeze, and have a runny nose which all produce droplets containing the virus. These tiny droplets contain the flu virus. Other people can get the virus by touching contaminated surfaces, getting these droplets in their nose and mouth or by inhaling the droplets. The flu can be spread from 1 day prior to getting sick to up to 5 days after getting sick.
Q. I had flu-like symptoms but feel better now. Can I go back to classes?
A. Persons with flu-like symptom should stay home and avoid contact with others. You may return to school after your fever is gone (without using any fever reducing medication) for at least 24 hours.
Q. Should I go to class if someone in my household is sick?
A. Students who feel well but have a family member with flu like symptoms can go to school as usual. These students should monitor their health everyday for symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, and/or muscle aches and pains, as well as take everyday precautions including washing their hands often with soap and water.
Q. What should I do if I exhibit these symptoms and need to miss class time due to illness?
A. Contact your instructor immediately, before the class meets if possible, so that your instructor is aware of your situation and may account for you with respect to the attendance policy.
Q. How will Northeastern University contact me with respect to official University policies and procedures?
A. Most communication will be forwarded via e-mail to a student’s Northeastern e-mail address. Every student should access their Northeastern e-mail regularly and use the forward function if their primary e-mail is one other than their Northeastern address. In order to forward your e-mail please access your myneu account and click on the e-mail link-options-forward e-mail and enter your primary e-mail address.
