Free H1N1 Flu Shots Expanded

Free H1N1 flu shots for all GWC students and staff through age 64. Click on attachment for details.

Free H1N1 Vaccine clinic at GWC 12-10-09

H1N1 FLU AND YOU (AND GWC) Powerpoint

H1N1 FLU AND YOU (AND GWC)

• H1N1 FLU (swine flu) is now widespread  throughout Orange County.
• Children, pregnant women, medically fragile,  and young people under 25 are at highest  risk.
• Probably need 3 flu shots this year: one for regular flu and two for the H1N1 flu
• Check your campus website for more  information.

Click here to download a Powerpoint Presentation for your department or class.

District Swine Flu Update

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The Coast Community College District has experienced confirmed cases of student with the H1N1 (Swine) Flu at Orange Coast College and Golden West College.  Each campus has notified all faculty and class members who may have been in contact with the students during the period of possible contagion.  The students have not been attending classes while recovering from this virus.

It is important for all of us to understand that H1N1 has not abated. The H1N1 is widespread throughout the United States, including Orange County.  Most of the influenza currently circulating in Orange County is pandemic H1N1 influenza. Updated information and links to the Center for Disease Control, Orange County Health Care Agency and the World Health Organization can be found on the District’s website at www.cccd.edu/swineflu <http://www.cccd.edu/swineflu> .
Based on currently available information, pandemic H1N1 influenza causes an illness similar in severity to seasonal influenza (“regular flu”) and is spread in the same ways.  Influenza is spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.  The symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.  Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with pandemic H1N1 flu.

The Coast Community College District and its colleges are committed to the health of every individual. For this reason, we are continuing our close partnership with the Orange County Health Care Agency and will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis. We encourage students demonstrating flu-like symptoms to visit Student Health Services or their own doctor and advise those who are sick not to come to campus.  Faculty members should be flexible in their course assignments and timelines for students that have the H1N1 virus and communicate regularly with students.

As many members of our community are preparing to begin a new semester, please remember to maintain healthy practices, including

·       Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer
·       Sneeze or cough into tissues or clothing
·       Eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest
·       Avoid contact with those who are sick
If you have flu-like symptoms, especially if you are running a fever, seek medical attention and do not come to campus.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the campus health centers:

Coastline Community College – Memorial Prompt Care
Huntington Beach       18561 Beach Blvd., (714) 848-0080
Westminster               15464 Golden West, (714) 891-9008

Golden West College
Student Health Center – (714) 895-8379
On campus, 1st Floor, Health Science Building, south side (Edinger) of campus

Orange Coast College
Student Health Center – (714) 432-5808
On campus, north of Watson Hall enrollment center, next to the gymnasium
Again, we are committed to the health and safety of every member of our college community and appreciate your participation in safe and healthy practices.  Please continue to check your email and campus websites for further information.

Frequent hand washing using soap and water or hand sanitizer is the best way to prevent the spread of germs!

CA Department of Public Health H1N1 Flu Hotline

The California Department of Public Health has activated a public hotline for callers with questions about the current outbreak of H1N1 Flu (swine flu).

Both English and Spanish speaking operators are available to the public at (888) 865-0564

Monday – Friday, 7:00 A.M. to
6:00 P.M.
Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 A.M.
to 4:00 P.M.

A recorded message with updated information will be used for after hours calls

CA Department of Public Health Hotline Flyer Download

Orange County Press Release 5/1/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  5/1/2009 

Contact: Howard Sutter 
714.448.0750 cell 
Howard.Sutter@ocgov.com 

Orange County Proclaims Local Emergency in Response to Swine Influenza Situation 

(Santa Ana, CA) — On Thursday, April 30, the County of Orange proclaimed a local emergency in response to the evolving Influenza A (H1N1), or swine influenza, outbreak in the region. The Director of Emergency Services requested the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to issue the emergency proclamation on behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. 

This emergency proclamation allows the County to fully deploy all available resources, actions, and measures deemed necessary to protect the health of Orange County residents. The action provides the County additional flexibility in purchasing goods and contracting for services needed for the response, as well as enabling the County to access additional resources from the State of California. On Tuesday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a State of Emergency in California due to the swine influenza outbreak.

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Golden West College is closely monitoring the flu situation on the national, state, and local level. There are currently no known cases of swine flu at Golden West College or the Coast Community College District.

H1N1 Flu Bulletin – updated 4/30/09, 6:30 p.m.

From the Orange County Health Care Agency

Thursday, April 30, 4 p.m. 
Two probable cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been confirmed in Orange County. Orange County’s base allocation of anti-viral drugs from the State is now pre-positioned in the event the medications are needed in response to the swine flu situation. 

There are currently no known cases of swine flu at Golden West College or the Coast Community College District. However, we would like everyone to take the following precautions:

Do not come to work or school if you have an influenza-like illness or acute respiratory illness (Fever over 100F and cough and/or sore throat). You should seek medical care for these symptoms, and for recent onset of at least two of the following:

• Fever of 100F+
• Conjestion
• Cough and/or sore throat
  OR 
• Recent travel to Mexico or San Diego/Imperial Counties or Sacramento and present cough and/or sore throat
• Contact with a person who has been diagnosed with Influenza A

Student Health Center

The GWC Student Health Center is able to perform rapid flu testing to make a determination of influenza immediately.

The Orange County Health Care Agency will test for the H1N1 flu virus in clusters of cases (three or more individuals who work or study in close contact with each other), or case of severe illness (patients hospitalized for the flu).  The GWC Student Health Center is capable of initiating testing for the H1N1 flu virus, with the approval of the OC Health Care Agency.

We will be updating the advice we are giving as we receive new information from the OC Health Care Agency and the State of California.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

• 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 are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people (six feet or greater distance is recommended).
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.