Dear Campus Community,
As the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) continues to circulate widely throughout the world, health officials expect case counts to rise in the United States, including in our area. That increases the likelihood that people in the campus community could be exposed to someone with H1N1 flu, perhaps even a family member who has contracted the virus.
The University does not have a way to track the total number of cases of H1N1 affecting the entire campus community beyond those reported on campus or locally. University officials will continue to post important updates on the Alert Carolina Web site, http://alertcarolina.unc.edu.
On June 25, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance for workers who have been exposed to someone with H1N1 flu.
Based on that information, the University has developed new recommendations for when University employees or students should stay home from work or school. These recommendations supersede the guidance provided by the University on June 18, 2009.
In general, University employees who are well but have a family member at home with H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day. If they become ill they should notify their supervisors and stay home using available leave (sick leave, vacation, bonus leave or flexible furlough program). Employees who have an underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should call their health-care providers for advice, including whether they should receive influenza antiviral drugs to prevent illness, and should seek care before reporting to work.
Employees who are experiencing an acute respiratory illness with a fever greater than 100.4 degrees along with cough, nasal congestion or sore throat should not come to work and should seek care from their personal health-care providers before reporting to work. They should stay home from work, school and any community gatherings for seven days after the illness begins or until at least 24 hours after the fever has disappeared - whichever is longer - using available leave (sick leave, vacation, bonus leave or flexible furlough program).
Students who are well but have a family member or roommate at home with
H1N1 flu can go to school as usual. They should monitor their health every day, and if they become ill they should stay home.
Students should use the resources posted on the Campus Health Services Web site, http://studenthealth.unc.edu, to find information about symptoms and what to do to prevent contracting the virus. Campus Health Services officials urge students who are ill with fever and respiratory symptoms to call the health services main appointment number at 966-2281 for advice, instruction and to schedule an appointment. General recommendations include staying home from work, school and any community gatherings for seven days after the illness begins or until at least 24 hours after the fever has disappeared - whichever is longer.
University employees who work in health-care settings will receive additional guidelines specific to their work environment from their human resources facilitators.
Although the disease has proven to be relatively mild and responsive to anti-viral drugs, the CDC recommends that everyone take the following actions to stay healthy:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue 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. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
The University's Department of Environment, Health and Safety, http://www.ehs.unc.edu/healthy/h1n1.shtml, is leading Carolina's response to the H1N1 flu in collaboration with the UNC Health Care System, UNC General Administration, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and the Orange County Department of Public Health.
Information about H1N1 is included on Alert Carolina, http://alertcarolina.unc.edu, and on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
Sincerely,
University Emergency Warning Committee
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