Flu update

I was thinking it may be a good idea if I included the statement Provost Bayly and I made to the university community earlier this week regarding the “swine flu.”  Clearly this is going to be a situation we will be monitoring for some time.  Take care and I wish you all the best.

August 27, 2009

To the University Community:

Amid the excitement and activity associated with the start of the academic year, we want to share the latest information on influenza A (H1N1), which is also known as the “swine flu,” and what Washington State University has been doing to prepare for it. Essential to our preparatory efforts is ensuring that all members of the university community follow appropriate preventative measures to minimize the impact H1N1 flu will have on carrying out our daily learning, teaching, research, and service activities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is predicting an increase in influenza activity this fall because of the current H1N1 outbreak. WSU has plans in place to minimize the impact on faculty, staff, and students and operations in case of an outbreak on our campuses. We are closely monitoring developments and are in close contact with federal, state, and local public-health officials to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. We will do everything we can to keep the University operating as usual. We need your support to accomplish this.

Here are a few things you can do to help:

• Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Discard the tissue after it has been used. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A number of people who have been infected with the H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
• Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius or greater) or signs of a fever (chills, feel warm to the touch, flushed appearance or sweating). Limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Don’t go to class or work.
• Talk with your health-care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. If you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. For information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.

As you may be aware, a number of students have already sought treatment for flu-like symptoms. Several cases of influenza A (H1N1) have been confirmed. If you develop flu-like symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Students on the Pullman campus should contact Health and Wellness Services at 335-3575, and others should contact their local health-care providers. Health-care professionals are in the best position to determine if you need influenza testing.

Faculty and students are encouraged to review and follow Academic Regulation 73 (Absences) which can be found at www.registrar.wsu.edu/Registrar/Apps/AcadRegs.ASPX. This regulation states that “as long as absences are not excessive, it is recommended that the instructor provide and document reasonable accommodation.” It also specifies that “written excuses from health-care personnel should not be required.”

For more information about flu in our university community and what our institution is doing visit www.h1n1flu.wsu.edu. For the most up-to-date national, state, and local information on flu, visit www.flu.gov, www.doh.wa.gov, and www.whitmancounty.org/page.aspx?pn=Public+Health.

We will update you on the latest news and information as it becomes available. University plans of action will be implemented as appropriate in the event that there is a significant increase in the number of people who become ill with influenza.

In the meantime, we encourage you to take the proper steps to stay healthy.

Sincerely,

This entry was posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 10:46 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.