H1N1 Information and Prevention

Faculty and Staff Colleagues,

Following up on Chancellor Martin’s e-mail to the campus community last week, I want to emphasize the unique challenges that H1N1 influenza preparations present to you as educators and to the entire academic side of the university. Please take a few minutes to read this message carefully.

I recognize that preparing for the start of the academic term is a challenge in itself, without your having to devise contingency plans for class-absentee rates that may be higher than usual or for the possibility that you might have to miss a week of class yourself, or without having to think creatively about ways instruction could continue from afar if social-distancing strategies were implemented.

However, the campus pandemic response plan requires your active engagement to succeed. As we embark on this semester, there are four important actions you can take to help mitigate the spread of disease:

— First and foremost, stay home when you’re sick, and tell your students and graduate assistants that you expect them to do the same. Students should not be encouraged to “tough it out” and come to class when they’re sick. Neither should you.

To limit the spread of disease, everyone on campus must consider it prudent to stay home from work and class at the first sign of influenza symptoms (fever of 100 degrees F/37.8 degrees C or higher with cough or sore throat) until at least 24 hours after they have been completely fever-free (without fever-reducing medication). For most people, this takes three to five days (health care workers must stay out for a minimum of seven days from symptom onset).

In an early class meeting, please alert your students how you want them to communicate with you if they have to miss classes or a deadline due to illness. They are being reminded in other campus messages that they will be responsible for getting class notes that they have missed and for making up assignments or exams within a reasonable period of time. Also, tell them where they will find course material online if class meetings can’t be held.

— Do not ask students for medical excuses for illness-related absences. Neither University Health Services (UHS) nor the Offices of the Dean of Students will provide these notes, nor should they be expected.

To support isolation of ill people, the campus has adopted the policy that it will not require medical excuses for students, faculty or staff absences from flu-like symptoms. Requiring such excuses makes compliance with isolation recommendations difficult and utilizes finite medical resources that are best directed to providing medical care. It is in keeping with recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for higher education, businesses and workplaces. This semester calls for trust in dealing with those affected by illness.

— While it’s important to take appropriate steps to limit the spread of infection, we don’t want to make you uncomfortable interacting with students or campus colleagues. Remember that a student may still sneeze in class due to allergies or cough due to a cold. Simply being in the same room with other people, even young people, is not considered a high-risk activity.

(If you have a condition that the CDC has linked to a higher risk of possible influenza complications, call your health care provider promptly if you have a “close contact” exposure with someone known to be infected. Medication may be recommended in some cases to prevent symptom onset. “High-risk” conditions include asthma or other chronic pulmonary disease; cancer; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; pregnancy; weakened immune system; or kidney, liver or neurological disorder. For more on high-risk conditions, download this CDC document (PDF).

— Support your own good health with frequent hand-washing and by trying to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Influenza virus spreads through close contact with respiratory droplets, which generally means touching a contaminated surface with your hands and then touching your hands to your face. These hygiene measures are among the most powerful precautions you can take for yourself, as it will be impossible for every surface to be disinfected every time anyone touches it.

If you have questions, e-mail pandemicinfo@mhub.uwpd.wisc.edu

I appreciate your flexibility and leadership as we endeavor to make this unusual semester a productive one for all of our students.

Sincerely,

Paul M. DeLuca Jr.
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs