Northern Kentucky University reported Monday that a student has tested positive for H1N1 influenza, also known as the swine flu.

The student is staying out of classes and is not on campus, officials said.

NKU officials said they became aware of this confirmed case when the student's parent called to inform the Office of University Housing. This is the first confirmed case on NKU's campus.

The university is informing those in close contact with students who are confirmed or probable cases and providing detailed information about symptoms, treatment and prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend preventive measures including washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth. The CDC also has recommended that schools not test for the specific H1N1 strain since those confirmed with influenza A are recommended to be treated as if they have H1N1.

NKU placed hand sanitizers in all residence hall lobbies and in public areas across campus. Other Kentucky universities and colleges are taking similar steps.

The protective measures recommended for all types of influenza are similarly important for this type.  All NKU faculty, students and staff are encouraged to always be vigilant about their health:

• Avoid close contact.  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick.   If you are sick, you may be ill for a week or longer.  You should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding traveling and to going to work or school, for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.)    In general, you should avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness, especially people at increased risk of severe illness from influenza.
• Cover your cough.  Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze.   Immediately throw the tissue in the garbage.   If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not your hands.
• Clean your hands.  WASH hands with warm soapy water.  If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and gels are a suitable substitute. We encourage you to carry your own personal size container of hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth.  Germs often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Contact your health care provider or seek medical care.  If you begin to experience flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue), visit your physician immediately and/or a local Urgent Treatment Center.

As more cases of H1N1 Flu are expected both globally and in the United States, NKU will continue to monitor the situation and make any scheduling and/or policy changes as needed.  At this time, there are no changes to university operations or activities as a result of H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu).  

If this year's flu season becomes more severe, NKU may take the following additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus:

• Allow students, faculty and staff at higher risk for complications to stay home.  These students, faculty and staff should make this decision in consultation with their health care provider.
• Find ways to increase social distances (the space between people) in classrooms such as moving farther apart, leaving empty seats between students, holding outdoor classes and using distance learning methods.
• Extend the time sick students, faculty or staff stay home or in their residence.  During severe flue conditions sick people should stay home for at least 7 days, even if they feel better sooner.  Those who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away.  Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat.  In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea or vomiting.
• Suspend classes.  This decision will be made together with local and public health officials.  The length of time classes would be suspended would depend on the goal of suspending classes as well as the severity and extent of  illness.

Additionally, the Office of  Education Abroad will update its website (http://studyabroad.nku.edu) to provide information concerning possible flu outbreaks in countries where NKU has programs.  Students and their parents can visit http://www/cdc.gov/travel for health information for students studying abroad.  In the event of a severe outbreak, the OEA may cancel specific programs.

University of Louisville officials say they have no reports of employees, faculty or staff taking off school because of a flu-like illness.

At the University of Kentucky, officials reported they have had five confirmed cases of H1N1 this summer. Western Kentucky University officials reported Monday one student has gone home with flu symptoms.

As of August 26, 2009 fourteen cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the Northern Kentucky area (Counties: 1 in Campbell; 8 in Boone; and 5 in Kenton). For up-to-date guidance and recommendations please visit the Northern Kentucky Health Department, Kentucky Department of Health and Center for Disease Control links below.