Guidelines for Pandemic Flu Prevention

The following information is based in part on the H1N1 Guidelines, Important H1N1 Flu Prevention and Response Information for the CEA Community, which is being followed at each of the CEA Global Campus and Global Partner locations. Students, faculty and staff at these locations have been educated on the transmission, symptoms, complications, ways to prevent or minimize the spread, and what to do if students must miss classes because of flu.

CEA Global Education sends regular briefings on health-related issues, including the H1N1 flu, to our Global Program Directors and international on-site staff. If parents and/or universities have additional questions regarding flu (seasonal or pandemic), we recommend the following online sources of information:

Actions our international on-site staff are taking include:

Widely distributing educational materials and information produced by public and national health organizations via hold messages, e-mails, text messages, print literature, video/audio, and social media
Ensuring the availability of information in multiple languages that represent the demographics of the Global Campus or Partner campus
Keeping the campuses informed of local conditions in your country/community.
Keeping classrooms and facilities clean and sanitized daily (hand sanitizers are available in areas where students congregate)

Tips for Students:

Since flu viruses spread from person to person by respiratory droplet transmission, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hands cleaners should also be used.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Other preventive measures recommended that can help prevent the flu included: do regular moderate cardio workouts; take a multi-vitamin daily; and get eight hours of sleep a night to help reduce stress, boost the immune system and ward off illness.
Don't smoke. Smoking reduces your immune system's ability to fight diseases.
Follow public health advice regarding class or campus closures, avoid crowds and take other social distancing measures.
Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety. Students are encouraged not to get behind in their course work when they are healthy so that they will be better able to deal with situation if they get the flu. (Parents should reinforce this as well.)

Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu Vaccines

Since seasonal influenza and novel influenza (H1N1) are expected to co-circulate this fall, CEA Global Education is encouraging students and staff to get vaccinated for the seasonal flu and H1N1, as well as notify us of locations of administration in the community, or when possible, on campus. However, national guidelines vary in countries where students are studying, and students enrolled this Fall will be informed if they are eligible for the vaccines in that country.

CEA highly recommends that students attending 2010 programs obtain the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations several weeks prior to the start of their programs and carry vaccination documentation with them as they travel.

There are two forms in which the vaccine can be administered. For healthy (not pregnant) individuals, the live, attenuated nasal spray vaccine (LAIV) is recommended for those 2-24 years of age, are 25-49 years of age and living with infants younger than 6 months, or are health care and emergency medical personnel. For all others, the flu shot vaccine is the administration of choice.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Pneumococcal pneumonia complicating influenza likely contributed to a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality during past pandemics. CEA Global Campuses will provide information to students about the CDC recommendations on pneumococcal vaccine and encourage students to report any recurrence of disease or worsening of symptoms to both on-site staff and their local healthcare provider.