Influenza Questions & Answers:
Regarding How Long to Stay Home if you are diagnosed with A-type flu,
Influenza A (H1N1), or display cold-like symptoms

Kobe University asks all employees and students to stay home if they are diagnosed with A-type flu / Influenza A (H1N1) or display cold-like symptoms such as fever, running/stuffed nose, sore throat, cough, headache, fatigue, joint pains, etc. People who display such symptoms should call the relevant division (Student Welfare Division within the Student Affairs Department, Personnel Division within the General Affairs Department, Student Affairs Section or General Affairs Section within your Faculty/Graduate School) and the Medical Center for Student Health to inform them of your condition, and stay home.

The stay home period should be seven days, starting the count from the day after the symptoms first appeared, or two days after the fever subsided and the temperature returned to normal. Should you continue to show cold-like symptoms, stay home until all symptoms have disappeared.

We have received many inquiries concerning the stay home policy. The following Questions & Answers are intended to answer these. Please read them carefully and reread the September 1 and September 14 notices.

Question 1

Please clarity "seven days, starting the count from the day after the symptoms first appeared mean?
 
Answer 1

If cold-like symptoms appeared on Monday, you should stay home until the next Monday and return to school or work on the next day, in this case, Tuesday.
 
Question 2

Do I have to stay home for seven days even if the symptoms disappeared?
 
Answer 2

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recommends that people diagnosed with Influenza A (H1N1) or live in an area where Influenza A (H1N1) is prevalent should take precaution and stay home for the entire seven-day period. This is because the body may need seven days to completely clean itself of the virus. Kobe University also recommends that everyone take this precaution.

The exception is for people with the regular flu. If your temperature remained normal for two days without the help of fever reducing medicine or antiviral drug such as Tamiflu or Relenza, you may return to school or work two days after the fever subsided; however, you must wear a mask as a precaution until the end of the seventh day.
 
Question 3

My temperature is now normal because I took some fever reducing medicine. Am I correct to assume that I can go back to school or to work in two days?
 
Answer 3

If all the symptoms have disappeared and your temperature remains normal for two days without the aid of any medication, including over the counter cold medicine, you may go back to school or work. You must however, wear a mask until the end of the seventh day as a precaution.
 
Question 4

My temperature is now normal because I took an antiviral drug (Tamiflu or Relenza). Am I correct to assume that I can go back to school or to work in two days?
 
Answer 4

No, when a doctor prescribes an antiviral drug, such as Tamiflu and Relenza, the medicine is for five days. You must stay home until you exhaust all the medicine even if your temperature returns to normal in less time. You may go back to classes or to work when the medicine is used up, if it has been two days since the fever returned to normal and all the symptoms have disappeared. You must however, wear a mask until the end of the seventh day as a precaution.
 
Question 5

Two days have passed since my temperature returned to normal, but I am still coughing. Is it OK for me to go back to school or to work?
 
Answer 5

No, please stay home until all the symptoms disappear. When you display severe symptoms or your symptoms do not recover after seven days, please consult a medical institution. If you do not know what to do, call and consult the Medical Center for Student Health at 078-803-5245 (Japanese only).
 
Question 6

Seven days have passed from the day after the symptoms appeared, but it has not been two days since my temperature returned to normal. Is it OK for me to go back to school or to work?

 
Answer 6

No, please stay home until two days after your temperature returned to normal and all the symptoms have disappeared.
 
Question 7

Do I need a medical certificate from a medical institution to return to classes or work?

Answer 7

No, a medical certificate is not necessary for you to return to school or work if the designated stay home period is over, and all the symptoms have disappeared. Do not go to a medical institution just to get a medical certificate because you risk spreading the Influenza virus and create extra work for people who work there.

People who had to stay home because of Influenza A (H1N1), A-type flu or cold like symptoms can receive a certificate to resume class or work from the Medical Center for Student Health. This is if you called the Student Affairs Section of your Faculty/Graduate School or the General Affairs Department when you first showed symptoms. This certificate must be obtained from the Medical Center for Student Health on the first day back to school or work after recuperation.

If you were hospitalized or had to stay home pass the designated stay home period, you may be asked to bring a medical certificate from a medical institution.
 
Question 8

Group infection is spreading in an extra-curricular activity group. Should the healthy members also go see a doctor?
 
Answer 8

No, healthy members do not have to go see a doctor. In fact, they may increase the risk of contracting the virus if they do go. Take good daily care of your health; if you do not feel well, stay home. If the symptoms are more severe, consult a medical institution. We ask all representatives of extra curricular activities to watch out for the members' health condition and to make sure that the members understand their responsibilities of keeping themselves healthy. If a member falls ill, he/she should contact the person in charge and stay home.