<p>Date: January 4, 2016</p><p>To: Employers and Faculty</p><p>From: Alastair K. Smith, MD, FRCS, FAAFP Medical Director, SF State Student Health Services</p><p>RE: Student Health Services Will Not Issue Sick Notes to Students for Influenza-Like Illness</p><p>In response to the 2015-2016 Seasonal Influenza (Flu) outbreak at SF State, Student Health Services (SHS) is following the NIH Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education.</p><p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Universities and employers do NOT require a doctor’s note to confirm illness or recovery from Flu or Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI). In accordance with these recommendations, SF State SHS will not issue sick notes to students with or who recover from the Flu or ILI.</p><p>These guidelines decrease the spread of the Flu and ILI to SF State students seeking treatment at SHS for other injuries or illnesses. The CDC and SF State SHS recommends that students, faculty and staff with the Flu or ILI stay away from classes, labs, library, work, etc., and limit their interactions with other people (“self- isolation”), until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines, e.g. Tylenol, Ibuprofen. In addition, the CDC and SF State SHS recommends that students, faculty and staff whose activities normally require them to work with patients exclude themselves from any activity with a patient and keep out patient care areas, such as hospitals or clinics, for 7 days after Flu or ILI started or until symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer. In most cases, faculty should expect sick students to be out for about 3 to 5, even if antiviral medications are used. Students not in a group at high risk for complications of the Flu or ILI high risk for complications of the Flu or ILI and who do not have symptoms or signs which may indicate a more severe disease do not need to visit the SF State SHS for treatment or evaluation and should “self-isolate” themselves in their home or dorm room. More information: Flu Facts and Cold and Flu Self-Care</p>