From: Administrative E-Memo (memofrom@Colorado.EDU)
Date: Fri Sep 25 2009 - 20:32:15 MDT
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:32:15 -0600 (MDT) From: Administrative E-Memo <memofrom@Colorado.EDU> Subject: Flu Update
TO: Boulder Campus Teaching & Research Faculty, Staff,
Deans, Directors, Dept Chairs, System Administration
FROM: Gary Chadwick, assistant vice chancellor for health and wellness
SENDER: Gary Chadwick, assistant vice chancellor for health and wellness
DATE: September 25, 2009
SUBJECT: Flu Update
Dear CU faculty and staff:
University of Colorado at Boulder health officials today reported that for
the second week they are seeing fewer cases of students with flu-like
symptoms at Wardenburg Health Center, with the number of cases of H1N1
confirmed by the state health department standing at four and the number of
students seen in the clinic with flu-like symptoms at 532 since Aug. 1.
These numbers include students living both on and off campus. They do not
include students who have been seen by an off-campus health care provider or
called to talk with a nurse on the phone. The university has scaled back its
Type A influenza testing, testing only students who meet high-risk criteria
or who are hospitalized. To date, two students have been hospitalized and
both have recovered from their flu symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend that
universities cancel large-scale events or quarantine students or any
individuals who may be infected as an H1N1 containment strategy. At this
time, CU-Boulder is not canceling any special events or classes.
Any persons experiencing influenza-like illness can call either Wardenburg
Health Center or their medical provider to discuss treatment options. People
who are at increased risk and have influenza-like symptoms, or people
without risks but who are experiencing influenza-like illness with worsening
symptoms, should be seen at a health center promptly.
Populations considered at increased risk of H1N1 complications include
pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems (such as those
undergoing chemotherapy), people with diabetes, asthma or other complicating
medical conditions, and small children. Wardenburg Health Center will
consider only people in these at-risk populations or those with worsening
flu symptoms as potential recipients of antiviral medications such as
Tamiflu.
CU-Boulder is coordinating with state and county health agencies on future
vaccination clinics. When the vaccine becomes available, Wardenburg Health
Center will hold a series of H1N1 vaccination clinics. High-risk populations
will receive the first vaccinations.
Officials are reminding the university community that the seasonal flu
vaccine is already available at many pharmacies, grocery stores and doctors'
offices and may be covered by personal insurance.
We continue to fully implement our infectious disease response plan, which
has been in place since last spring. We will keep you updated with new
information as it becomes available to us, so watch your e-mails for
important messages marked "flu update" and read them carefully. For now,
here are a few vital tips and contacts.
Faculty
- All faculty members are expected to be flexible regarding students missing
classes and making up work. The recovery time for H1N1 can be from 7-10
days, and students are expected to stay out of class until at least 24 hours
after their fever breaks, and continue diligent hand-washing and good
respiratory etiquette. Due to the number of expected illnesses, students
should not be required to provide a note to faculty to excuse an absence
from class due to illness.
- The university is observing normal schedules regarding classes at this
time. If the situation changes, the provost will direct department chairs,
in consultation with their deans, to decide if "discretionary" events should
be canceled.
- Faculty should make clear arrangements for class continuity in the event
they themselves become ill, and should be prepared to communicate the
information to students.
- Departments should be particularly prepared to receive student phone calls
regarding missing class and notifying faculty of their health status and to
communicate key information to individual faculty and instructors.
Staff
- The University is operating under existing leave rules, policies and
procedures at this time.
- Any Boulder campus and System Administration employees who are exhibiting
flu-like symptoms are strongly encouraged to stay home. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that employees stay home for
at least 24 hours after their fever has subsided, without the use of fever
reducing medications, and continue diligent hand-washing and good
respiratory etiquette.
- Employees with flu-like symptoms who do stay home should use sick leave
for the absence and follow proper procedures to request leave from their
supervisors. If an employee has exhausted all of his or her sick leave, it
is appropriate to use annual leave.
- The CDC recommends that employees not be required to confirm their illness
or recovery from the flu with medical documentation because doctors' offices
may be unable to provide such documentation in a timely fashion. Therefore,
this flu season, employees are not required to submit a medical
certification if they are out for more than three consecutive workdays
because they or their family members have the flu. Departments are not
required to designate Family Medical Leave (FML) for employees who have ILI
or are caring for family members who have ILI.
For more information, employees should visit the Human Resources Web site at
http://www.colorado.edu/humres/. There is a helpful Human Resources H1N1
question-and-answer page at
http://www.colorado.edu/humres/whatsnew/H1N1QAs.html
Working together, I know we will all get through this outbreak, which could
last throughout the fall and early winter. Again, please monitor your e-mail
communications carefully for news and updates titled "flu update."
Sincerely,
Gary Chadwick, assistant vice chancellor for health and wellness
University of Colorado at Boulder
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