Health and Safety
Safety Updates

H1N1 Information

September 2009

As Skidmore College monitors the situation with H1N1 on campus, OCSE will also be monitoring local conditions for our many students studying off campus. We will be in constant contact with our staff and partners off campus to ensure we are aware of changes affecting both international and domestic off-campus programs. 

Because health concerns and responses will vary depending on the location of each program and the severity of the local conditions, we are developing individual response plans with each of our program partners. OCSE will communicate directly with students and parents in affected areas if concerns arise and will post any updates on our Web site.

For information concerning local health conditions for a given program, please use the following resources:  


A note from Skidmore's Health Services office:


On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that a “pandemic” of novel H1N1 was underway. The determination was made based on increased spread of the virus and did not reflect an increase in severity of the outbreak. The majority of affected individuals have continued to experience mild to moderate symptoms similar to ordinary seasonal flu, and most recover without hospitalization or antiviral treatment, although death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

Symptoms of both regular seasonal flu and novel H1N1 are similar and include:

  • Fever (100° F or higher)
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Body aches
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Occasionally gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Individuals are contagious 1 day before and up to 7 days after symptoms first appear.

The best way to prevent becoming ill with seasonal influenza is by getting a flu vaccination each fall. Currently there is no vaccine available to protect against novel H1N1 virus. However, an H1N1 vaccine is in production and may be ready for the public sometime this fall. There are everyday actions that you can take to protect your health and prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza:

  • Cover your mouth and nose 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 hand cleaners/sanitizers are also effective if soap and water are not readily available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Avoid contact with sick people.
  • Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise on a regular basis, get adequate sleep, and manage your stress.
  • Avoid use of alcohol and tobacco products.

Additional general information about the H1N1 flu can be found on the Web sites for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.