We are sure that all of you are concerned related to the media reports about the potential of an H1N1 flu outbreak. We would like to reassure our students that the Student Health Services here at Iona College is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health, the Westchester County Health Department in developing a response to H1N1 and we are carefully monitoring this situation.

Any student with a temperature greater than 100.0° and cough or sore throat should call the Student Health Services at 914-633-2548 and make an appointment for an evaluation. The CDC and the New York State Department of Health have asked that we increase our surveillance for H1N1 flu in such patients. Please be reassured that H1N1 flu DOES respond to the commonly used anti-viral medication Tamiflu and Relenza.

Currently, the CDC is not placing restrictions on travel and is not recommending routine preventive Tamiflu prescriptions for travelers. Student Health Services will be offering the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it's delivered, hopefully as early as the first week of October and we are hopeful that we'll have supplies of H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. We will update students as we learn more about this situation.

More information and daily updates on the H1N1 flu outbreak can be found at www.cdc.gov.