Important update on U-M response to swine flu

All faculty and staff:

Because the constantly changing nature of the worldwide swine flu outbreak can create confusion, we want to offer you this update on the university’s response.

While it is prudent for each of us to know our role in the university’s pandemic influenza response plan, it’s equally important to understand that in the absence of confirmed cases of swine flu at any of our three campuses there is no public health threat at this time.

We want to assure you that as we work our way through the latest developments in this flu outbreak that the university’s actions will be guided by recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state and local health departments and our own public health and medical experts.

As this moment that means that, for most of us, it is business as usual at the university.

But this also is a good time for a few reminders:

• Employees at the University Health Service and throughout the U-M Health System, including Medical School faculty and Hospitals and Health Centers staff, have been adapting quickly to changing guidelines for screening, testing and preparing to treat patients who may have been infected.

• Employees who are involved in various aspects of the university’s emergency response plan have begun to review processes and procedures created three years ago.

• Faculty and staff and who experience flu-like symptoms are encouraged to stay home from work to keep others from getting sick. Flu-like symptoms are defined as a fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, runny nose, cough and respiratory congestion. 

• If, in addition to having flu-like symptoms, you have traveled to Mexico in the last seven days or have been exposed to someone with swine flu in the last seven days, we recommend that you call your regular health care provider. Also, the CDC Web site www.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx provides guidance for those returning from Mexico to the workplace. 

• Now, more than ever, it is important to clean your hands regularly and thoroughly, avoid touching your nose and eyes directly, use tissues and dispose of them properly, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve — not your hand.

• If you are a parent of young children, it is a good time to think about alternative child care options should your child’s school or child care center be closed for some reason.

This is a very fast-changing situation that will require diligence from all of us. While we do not yet know how we will need to respond, we are absolutely confident we will be prepared to respond.

Teresa Sullivan, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs
Dr. Robert Winfield, chief health officer

Additional details are available on these Web sites:
Information on the U-M response to the swine flu outbreak:
www.umich.edu/flu-swine.php

Information for patients and visitors to U-M medical facilities:
www.med.umich.edu/flu

Information on the U-M’s pandemic influenza response plan: www.umemergencymanagement.umich.edu/pandemicFlu/plan/

Previous Messages:
U-M responds to swine flu outbreak
www.ur.umich.edu/0809/Apr27_09/27.php

U-M takes further steps related to swine flu outbreak (4/29/09)
www.ur.umich.edu/0809/Apr27_09/25.php

An important message about swine flu from Provost Sullivan and Chief Health Officer Dr. Winfield to the university community (4/27/09)
www.ur.umich.edu/0809/Apr27_09/18.php