SMU Flu Advisory

We are in the midst of flu season, and cases have been reported at SMU.

The flu spreads easily and can impact the campus. We need your help to prevent cases of flu from spreading.  It is important for all students, faculty and staff to take the following precautions:

• Be aware of flu symptoms, including fever with cough or sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, vomiting or diarrhea.
• If you have flu symptoms, stay at home and avoid contact with others.  Do not return to class or work until you no longer have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. 
• Seek medical attention if experiencing acute symptoms such as body aches, cough or a fever of more than 100.5. In case of emergency, call 911 or visit a hospital emergency room. For information about weekend and after-hours options near campus, click here. The Health Center is open Mondays-Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call 214-768-2141.
• Students with the flu should email their professors as soon as possible and let them know they have the flu, or they may call the Office of the Dean of Student Life for assistance at 214-768-4564.
• Resident students who have flu symptoms may order meals for pickup. Those picking up the meals must have the ill student’s SMU ID card. For meal pickup at Umphrey Lee, contact Tammie Henderson (214-802-8973 or tammieh@smu.edu). For meal pickup at Arnold Dining Commons, contact Shawna Bass at 214-768-2391 or bass-shawna@aramark.com.
• If symptoms get worse after you have been on medication for three or four days, return to your healthcare provider to make sure you have not developed a secondary infection. Those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, or complications should call the Health Center at 214-768-2141.

To avoid the flu:

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after touching common surfaces such as door handles.
• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing with either a disposable tissue or a sleeve, and avoid touching your face.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick. Get plenty of rest to keep the immune system working at its best.

Get a Flu Shot

SMU offers free flu shots for all SMU students, as well as benefit eligible faculty, staff, retirees and retiree spouses, while supplies last.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that people who have not yet gotten the flu shot do so, with flu activity high across most of the country. While the CDC reports that the flu vaccine is not as effective this year against some viruses, it advises that getting vaccinated can prevent some infections and reduce the severity of illness.

Flu shots are available at the Health Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Please bring your SMU ID to the Health Center. 

More info:  www.smu.edu/flu