Swine flu

Swine flu (influenza A/H1N1) at K.U.Leuven

The university will continue to operate normally unless a new university-wide guideline is imposed or the government advises otherwise: lectures, practice sessions, student counselling sessions and exams will take place as usual and policy, administration and the central and faculty services will continue to function normally as well. Check Toledo regularly for the latest news and guidelines. We recommend you also check this website regularly for the latest updates!

How can I prevent infection?

Wash your hands regularly

Wash your hands regularly. Wash them whenever they are visibly dirty, before every meal and after any contact with bodily fluids such as when you blow your nose or use the toilet.

  1. Use running water and liquid soap.
  2. Rub your hands together thoroughly for at least 15 seconds, ensuring that all parts of the hands are clean (palms, fingertips, between the fingers, etc.).
  3. Rinse both hands thoroughly with running water
  4. Preferably, dry your hands with a paper towel.
  5. Close the tap with the paper towel.
Vaccination

As of yet, no vaccination is available for Swine flu. The vaccination is being developed and is expected to be circulated as of November 2009. When the vaccination does appear on the market, the government will be responsible for its distribution.

However, it is already possible to be vaccinated against normal winter flu. The medical centre for students will organise vaccination sessions for this purpose at the end of October.

When you cough or sneeze
  1. Cover your mouth and nose with a paper tissue.
  2. Throw the tissue in the bin immediately.
  3. Always wash your hands thoroughly after coughing or sneezing, to ensure that you do not transmit germs to others.

Blow your nose with a paper tissue and throw it in a bin immediately after use.

Avoid contact with people who are visibly ill

Stay as far away from them as possible (at least 1 metre).

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Germs are often spread when people touch infected objects and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

Mouth masks ...

do not protect against infection and are only useful when people who have already been infected wear them to avoid infecting others.

What should I do if I've contracted swine flu?

The symptoms of swine flu are comparable to those of normal winter flu. The virus causes high fever exceeding 38°C, head and muscle aches and pains, joint aches and pains, cough, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, exhaustion, etc.

  1. If you are ill, stay as far as possible from others to avoid infecting them (at least 1 metre).
  2. Stay at home; do not attend lectures or any other classes, seminars, etc. Do not go to Alma, do not use public transport and do not go shopping if you are ill. This will help to prevent transmission of the virus.
  3. Consult a doctor as soon as possible; K.U.Leuven has a Medical Centre for students. We recommend that Belgian students living in student housing return to their family home to recover. International students, on the other hand, should ask the doctor what the best way is for them to recover, in light of their particular living situation.
Recovery

Swine flu is not an especially severe illness. As with winter flu, one usually recovers spontaneously and it suffices to rest sufficiently, to drink enough water, to eat healthily and in more severe cases, to take fever medication or painkillers. The preventive taking of anti-viral medication is strongly discouraged.

Source: Influenza.be

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