National Leaders Release Guidelines to Prevent Flu Transmission at Universities
National officials from education, Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued guidelines to help keep faculty, staff and students safe during the flu season.
US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Beth Bell, MD, MPH, deputy director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, held a conference call on Aug. 20 to discuss how higher education institutions can decrease exposure to regular seasonal flu and influenza A (H1N1) flu virus. The CDC guidelines are posted here.
While the “new academic year is an exciting time filled with huge promise and opportunities,” Duncan said it also poses some challenges in anticipation of further spread of H1NI.
“Young, seemingly healthy individuals of college-age are one of the high-risk groups,” Duncan said, noting that federal governmental agencies have collaborated to prepare the guidelines “that reflect the best of science.”
H1N1 is a new flu virus of swine origin that first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March and April. It is thought that H1N1flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects and then touching your nose or mouth, according to the CDC website.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to avoid spreading germs.
- Stay home if you get sick. The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them until 24 hours after fever resolves.
Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
As a mother of a 28- and 25-year-old, Sebelius confirmed that college-age students are particularly vulnerable to the H1N1 virus and live lifestyles that add to their risks of contracting illnesses. She said college students need to be encouraged to take care of themselves and to take advantage of the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available in mid-October.
Sebelius noted that the US government has contracted with five different drug manufacturers which are working to produce the H1N1 vaccine. She said that she expects the supply of H1N1 vaccines will be enough to cover those who want it, but that it could be until Thanksgiving time when enough vaccines are made available to everyone.
Meanwhile, the federal government is reaching out to college-age students in novel ways, using social media and multimedia to get the word out about flu prevention, including sponsoring a contest for posting public service announcements on Facebook.
“We’re monitoring the virus closely across the country,” Sebelius said, adding that the US government is working with international partners as well. “So we’re hoping we’re on track to be ahead of this virus to get the college population vaccinated once that becomes available in October.”
The federal government continues to recommend a number of common-sense actions that have been well publicized since the outbreak of H1N1.These actions include practicing hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette in covering coughs as well as isolating oneself when sick. Faculty, students and staff should not go to work or school until 24 hours after the resolution of fever, Bell said.
Among other steps to prevent the spread of the virus on campuses are regularly cleaning high-touch objects in public areas, including doorknobs, keyboards, elevator buttons and desks.
Asked when colleges and universities should suspend operations or cancel classes due to an outbreak, Bell said that federal officials “recognize that the right decision has to be a decision that is made locally in consultation with public health authorities” since the response has to fit the specific circumstances on the ground.
Campus and medical center groups across UCSF are monitoring the pandemic, including information about availability and distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, and enhancing response plans accordingly. The Occupational Health Program at UCSF is evaluating guidance from federal, state, and local agencies and will be releasing the schedule for the fall flu shot clinics in the upcoming weeks.
In addition, the UCSF Police Department’s Emergency Management Division has posted information about continuity planning and pandemic flu on the new, improved UCPD website.
A chronology of web-based communications about H1N1 is posted on the Occupational Health Program website.