Student Health Update

August, 2006

Dear students and parents/guardians,

For most Carleton students, their four years at Carleton will be among the healthiest of their lives. However, students and families do need to be well-informed about the health risks they will face, and are encouraged to take steps to prevent disease occurrences.

College students are at increased risk for some infectious disease transmission because they are in highly mobile communities that also concentrate large numbers of persons in intimate living, learning, and social environments. In addition, interactions of students during sporting or other inter-collegiate events and mass mobilization of students during holidays (e.g., spring break) are opportunities for transmission among students from geographically diverse parts of the world.

The Carleton College Wellness Center, following recommendations from the American College Health Association, suggests the following:

Mumps: The most effective strategy to protect college students from mumps is to require that all students have received two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) or have other evidence of immunity. Please provide us documentation.

Pertussis (whooping cough): Another infectious disease that can be minimized by receiving the Tdap booster. Students who have already gotten a booster dose of Td are encouraged to get a dose of Tdap as well, for protection against pertussis. Please consult with your health care provider.

Influenza (flu) and Meningococcal: On October 5, 2006, the College will be holding a vaccination clinic. More information for this clinic is on the back of this letter.

Pandemic infections: Please see our web site for links to current information and college updates: http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/avian_flu/

For students traveling to areas where cases of the avian flu have been reported we suggest you visit https://www.tripprep.com/scripts/main/default.asp

If you believe that you have been exposed during your travel to avian flu, please follow these important steps:

• Monitor your health for at least 10 days.
• If, at any point during this period, you become ill with fever and develop a cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing, or if you develop any illness with fever, consult a health care provider.
• Before you visit the Wellness Center or any health care provider, call the provider’s office and tell the provider the following: Your symptoms, where you traveled, and if you have had direct contact with poultry.
• Travel only if you are seeking medical care. Limiting contact with others as much as possible can help prevent the spread of an infectious illness.

We are looking forward to a healthy year. Please contact The Wellness Center with any questions.

Cathy Carlson

Director, The Wellness Center

507-222-4080

http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/wellness/

Sincerely,

Hudlin Wagner

Dean of Students