WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is urging colleges to prepare for swine flu this fall and has issued new guidance for keeping students living in dorms from making each other sick.

Officials say students with flu symptoms should avoid other people until 24 hours after a fever is gone. For students with private dorm rooms, that could mean staying in their rooms and finding a "flu buddy" to help deliver meals and notes from class.

For someone with a roommate, it could mean moving to some kind of temporary housing for sick students. And, officials say, if sick students can't avoid close contact with other people, they need to wear surgical masks.

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