Public Health Information

 

Update: April 24, 2020

 WCU Health Services has received the following notice from Skanska USA: 

Skanska USA is suspending all construction activity at the Apodaca Science Building at Western Carolina University until May 4, 2020 due to concerns about workers being exposed to the COVID-19 illness.

Update: April 23, 2020

WCU Health Services has received the following notice from the Jackson County Public Health Department:

The Jackson County Department of Public Health (JCDPH) has been notified of 3 additional positive cases of COVID-19 associated with the Apodaca Science Building at Western Carolina University’s campus.  None of these cases are Jackson County residents.  All cases are following isolation orders.  JCDPH and Harris Regional Hospital have coordinated efforts to offer targeted testing to constructions workers affiliated with this site.  The site is closed at this time.

If you were at this site between April 15 and today and wish to be tested for COVID-19, call the Health Department at 828.586.8994 or visit Harris Regional Hospital. 

Update: April 6, 2020

WCU Health Services continues to work closely with county and state health officials to monitor the evolving COVID-10 outbreak.  Health Services are still available to the campus community, both via telemedicine and in person visits, but you must contact the department at 828-227-7640 for an appointment.  In order to prevent the spread of infectious illness through our community, each patient will be screened via phone call and directed on how to access care in the facility.  No walk-in patients will be seen during this time.

There are no confirmed cases on campus at this date. Please refer to reliable sources such as the Jackson County Department of Public Health, the NC Department of Health and Human Services or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for accurate, up to date information. 

Please refer to the WCU Coronavirus website for information related to campus operations.

The CDC recognizes that patients most at risk are older adults and anyone with a serious underlying medical condition, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease or any respiratory conditions.  Protecting yourself from illness helps you protect others as well.

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

• The air by coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact, including touching and shaking hands
• Touching your nose, mouth or eyes before washing your hands

The symptoms of the virus are similar to the flu and typically cause mild to moderate respiratory illness.  If you become sick, please contact your healthcare provider before you seek care.

COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Shortness of Breath

At this time of year, respiratory illnesses in people in North Carolina can also be caused by flu.  Seasonal allergies may trigger similar symptoms as well.  There are precautions to protect yourself that include:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched. 

Health Services continues to monitor this changing situation and will continue to follow the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

As the spring semester is getting underway, so is the 2020 flu season. I wanted to update you on flu activity in our area and ask for your help in preventing the spread of flu in our community.

Influenza, the flu, is a contagious respiratory virus that can cause mild to severe illness and can pose high risks for people with certain health conditions or compromised immune systems.

The Center for Disease Control's (CDC) surveillance map shows widespread flu, or flu like illness, activity throughout the southeast United States.  More specifically, the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ Surveillance Summary demonstrates increased flu activity at this point in time compared to the past two years in North Carolina.  With those statistics in mind, you can take to help avoid the flu and prevent the spread of flu and keep our campus healthy:

• The first and most important step in protecting yourself from the flu is to GET a flu vaccine. It is not too late to get a flu shot. While the flu shot may not prevent you from getting the flu, it is proven to be effective in helping reduce the severity of symptoms and shorten recovery time if you do get sick.  Health Services still has shots available.
• Know the symptoms of the flu, and seek medical care here at Health Services if you experience these symptoms:
• Fever of 100.4F/38C degrees or higher or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Cough and/or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea (most common in children)
• Practice good prevention habits by WASHING your hands routinely. Particularly after you have touched surfaces in common areas--avoid touching your face.  Wash your hands with either soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer rubbing your hands together until they are dry.
• Routinely wipe your pens, phones, keyboards and other common items that may be touched or used by individuals other than yourself, in both your work environment and at home.
• Cover your mouth if you need to cough or sneeze, using a tissue or your elbow if necessary.
• Prevent the spread of germs! If you become ill, self-isolate until at least 24 hours after your fever subsides. If you visit a medical provider, ask for a mask, even if you are not experiencing symptoms, you may be exposed while at that medical office.

If you are diagnosed with the flu, the Office of Student Affairs is assisting with documented medical absence notifications to allow you the necessary time to recuperate without furthering spreading illness to the rest of campus.

From January 1 to May 10, 2019, 839 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 23 states, based on data reported to the CDC.

This is an increase of 75 cases from the previous week, and new cases continue to be diagnosed.

This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1994 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.

The states that have reported cases to CDC are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, and Washington.

In a given year, more measles cases can occur for any of the following reasons:

• an increase in the number of travelers who get measles abroad and bring it into the U.S., and/or
• further spread of measles in U.S. communities with pockets of unvaccinated people.

Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing. Persons with measles are contagious from four days prior to rash onset (with the rash onset considered day zero) through four days after rash onset.

Measles is a public health concern and is reportable to the Communicable Disease Branch of the NC Department of Health and Human Services to implement measure to control the spread of illness.

As of May 16, 2019 NC has not experienced a positive case of measles, but if are experiencing any of these symptoms and are concerned about potential exposure, please visit Health Services to discuss your concerns.

 

Several infectious illnesses result from mosquito and tick bites.  The simplest way to prevent these illnesses is to prevent mosquito and tick bites through the use of insect repellent.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued travel advisories to areas infected with Zika virus, including parts of the United States. There are five important things that you should know about Zika. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and have either traveled to an infected area or recently had mosquito bites please visit Health Services to discuss your concerns.

Other infections that can result from a mosquito or tick bites include:

Zika

Chikungunya

Dengue

Malaria

Saint Louis Encephalitis

La Crosse Encephalitis

Lyme Disease

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Educate yourself and contact Health Services if you need more information.

 

Health Services if following the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

There is a Level 2 Travel warning issued by the CDC to limit travel to Saudi Arabia, and the neighboring countries of Iran, Iraq and Syria. More information regarding travel restrictions

As of June 2015, there is still a Level 1 travel warning to South Korea and China.  More information regarding travel restrictions to this area visit

View a handout on MERS

As of March 29, 2016 the World Health Organization issued the following statement:

The 9th meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa took place on 29 March 2016. In the Committee’s view, the Ebola situation in West Africa no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the temporary recommendations adopted in response should now be terminated.

Health Services will continue to follow the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

Persons arriving in the U.S. from an affected area or any traveler should monitor their health and if feeling sick, contact their health provider immediately and tell him or her about their recent travel and potential contacts before they go to the doctor's office or emergency room to prevent potential transmission to others.

Students should contact Health Services at 828-227-7640 and ask to speak with a Registered Nurse for questions or assistance.

Faculty and Staff should contact their primary care Provider or Health Services for more information.