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Flu Information for Faculty and StaffDear Faculty and Staff: I write to inform you of University preparations for the expected increase in cases of influenza this fall on campus. We continue to see a low, but steady level of Flu-like illness, and public health officials expect this to increase in the fall as students return to classrooms here and across the country. Members of the university administration and individual schools and colleges have been working diligently to prepare for a response to any possible contingency regarding an outbreak of influenza on our campus. Students have been asked to stay in their rooms and away from class if they are ill. Faculty has been encouraged to consider alternative teaching methods if they or a large number of their students are absent with the flu. Because we expect the severity of the H1N1 strain of influenza to be similar to that of seasonal flu, we also expect the university will continue with all regularly scheduled classes and other activities. However, if staff members become ill with the flu, we ask them to immediately contact the Student Health Center for assessment and evaluation, stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-lowering medication. We expect it will be “business as usual” on campus this fall and all current human resources policies regarding sick time or paid time off remain in effect. If you or any of your co-workers become sick with a flu-like illness, the best thing to do is to call in sick as you normally would and use sick time or paid time off to stay home until you get better. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines flu-like illness this way: A fever of 100.4 F (38.0 C) or greater, plus a cough or sore throat and possibly other symptoms like runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea. It is important to note that most of those who become ill are getting mild to moderate cases of the flu and they are recovering fully in about a week, without any medical intervention. Those of us working on influenza preparedness and response pledge to do our best to keep the university community healthy and safe and to keep you informed. There is a small possibility that the influenza virus could mutate this fall and become more dangerous and even more lethal, or that there could be a widespread outbreak of influenza on campus or within the metropolitan Washington area. If that happens, we may need to act more aggressively to prevent infection of students by suspending classes and closing residence and dining halls. In that eventuality, students will be asked to return home. If they cannot, we will ask that they go to the homes of relatives, friends or classmates for the duration of the emergency. A widespread outbreak of influenza may severely restrict individual’s ability to travel, especially via trains, planes, and busses, so plan accordingly. It is important -- if you have not done so already -- that you make a plan now for leaving campus in the unlikely event that classes are suspended for an extended period of time; take whatever steps are necessary to make that plan ready to be executed on short notice. As developments warrant, you can expect additional e-mail messages. We also have developed a University web page where you can find links to the latest advice from medical experts at the Howard University Influenza website and from agencies like the CDC and the World Health Organization on topics such as vaccines, underlying conditions and restrictions of treatment with Tamiflu. Please see that information below.
How you can reduce your risk of contracting the flu
Vaccinations
Web sites With More Flu Information
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