Suspected viral infection (winter vomiting and fever)
There has been a substantial outbreak of a suspected viral infection in a Cambridge college over the last few days, and all students need to be aware and prepared in order to contain its further spread. Please read this message from the college nurse carefully, and follow the instructions it contains; they come from the city's environmental health officers.
PRECAUTIONS
THOROUGH AND FREQUENT HANDWASHING, WITH ANTI-BACTERIAL LIQUID SOAP, AND SURFACE CLEANING are the most important precautions you can take.
Avoid dehydration: drink plenty of water/fruit squash.
SYMPTOMS Illness begins up to forty-eight hours after contagion and may include forceful projectile vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps,low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue.
Don't panic: recovery from these symptoms is usually within 24-48 hours.
TREATMENT Rest -- stay in your room and keep away from all others who should not come into your room. Drink small amounts of fluids frequently. Take paracetamol according to recommended dosages to ease pain and fever.
This virus is highly contagious, and spreads through touching an infected person, object or surface, and by droplets. DO NOT be tempted to go out, or let friends come into your room. Cancel supervisions and all other academic and social commitments until forty-eight hours after your last bout of diarrhea and/or vomiting.
It is imperative that as a priority you inform me as College nurse and also the Tutorial office if you display any of the symptoms, along with your location and date and time of onset. You also need to give us your current contact details (mobile phone number is ideal).
Click Here for a ready-made email to report your case to the college.
Whilst unwell, please leave your mobile switched on, and ask friends to deliver food, drink and other necessities for you, passing these other to you but not entering your room so as to avoid all physical contact with you.
I will in due course be giving all affected students an infectious diseases questionnaire from the Health Protection Agency to help them monitor the infection.
Please contact me if you have any questions to do with the above.
Contact details:
J.brighting@pem.cam.ac.uk - College Nurse
B.coombs@pem.cam.ac.uk - Tutorial Office
01223 338100 - Porter's Lodge phone number
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Mon/Fri 08.30 - 11.30
Tues/Thurs 10.30 - 13.30
Wed 15.00 - 18.00