General Information on the Flu
POLICY REGARDING “SICK NOTES” FOR CLASS ABSENCE
Framingham State University Health Services does not routinely provide “sick notes” for students to professors due to brief absences from class due to illness. We encourage students to communicate directly with their professors about their absences. This is meant to encourage mature communication between student and professor, as well as encourage personal responsibility for class attendance decisions.
We strongly encourage students and faculty to stay out of class and other group gatherings when ill with a contagious illness (other than a routine “cold.”) Social distancing, “cough etiquette,” limitation of hand-shaking and excellent hand-washing are important strategies especially during flu season. We encourage faculty to consider absences in this context to be appropriate and preferable to students attending class while ill.
In the event of an anticipated absence of 3 or more consecutive days, or in the event of a communicable disease which necessitates class absence for public health reasons, students will be referred to the Dean of Students who will facilitate notification of faculty.
Seasonal Flu
Flu is an infectious disease of the body’s respiratory system including the nose, throat and lungs. Flu is short for influenza. It can spread easily from person to person. Seasonal flu occurs every year in the winter and early spring.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
Flu Symptoms
Symptoms of seasonal flu can include:
- Fever greater than 100 degrees F (38 degrees C)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea
Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe for the seasonal flu
Click for information on Flu versus the Common Cold.
