Emergency Guidelines for the Campus Community

H1N1 Influenza

April 28, 2009 E-Mail

TO: Princeton University campus community
FROM: Environmental Health and Safety and University Health Services
 
RE: Princeton officials closely monitoring swine flu outbreak; Guidance on health measures
DATE: April 28, 2009
 
Princeton University officials are actively monitoring the recent outbreak of swine influenza that has sickened people in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The federal government has declared a public health emergency as a result of several confirmed cases of swine flu in this country.
 
As of this morning, Tuesday, April 28, there were 64 confirmed cases nationwide, including 45 in New York City. There are five suspected but unconfirmed cases in New Jersey.
 
There is no immediate impact on the University, our community, or operations or activities. As part of our standard procedure in issues related to public health, we are working closely with local and state health officials to share information and respond as appropriate. The most effective action for members of our community is to continue to practice good personal hygiene.
 
Princeton will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies. The CDC has issued a recommendation to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico during this time.
 
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION:
 
See below for additional information especially for individuals planning to travel, but those who already have traveled to areas with active cases (Mexico, southern California, the San Antonio region of Texas, New York City and Kansas) should be vigilant in monitoring flu-like symptoms. Symptoms of swine flu include fever greater than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, sore throat, respiratory congestion, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting. If these symptoms develop within seven days of travel, please contact your healthcare provider by telephone for information on treatment.

Students who recently have traveled to an affected area or were exposed to someone with swine flu, and now are experiencing flu-like symptoms, should visit McCosh Health Center on Washington Road to speak with a nurse or medical provider during business hours, or call (609) 258-3141 between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday or between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. If you are significantly ill with flu symptoms after hours, please visit Inpatient Services on the second floor of McCosh Health Center.
 
Faculty and staff experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact their personal physicians. For general questions, call Employee Health at (609) 258-5035 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
 
We strongly urge our community to practice these habits every day to stay healthy:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and properly dispose of the tissue.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the spread of germs.

NOTE FOR TRAVELERS:
 
Princeton University does not fund or sponsor undergraduate student travel to countries on the U.S. State Department Warning List or to countries where the U.S. has issued travel restrictions. In light of the U.S. CDC’s recommendation against non-essential travel to Mexico, the University will not issue funds or approve Princeton-sponsored undergraduate travel to that country until further notice.
 
All undergraduate University sponsored travel must be registered in the University Travel Database, which assists the University in alerting all student travelers to health and safety concerns in the travel destination and contacting students in the event of an emergency: http://www.princeton.edu/travel/database.
 
Graduate students, faculty and staff who will be traveling on University business (including travel for research and study) are strongly encouraged also to register their information into the travel database.
 
For more information about the undergraduate student travel policy or to submit a request for consideration of an individual exemption, please contact Amy Campbell (amyc@princeton.edu). For questions about graduate, faculty and staff travel policies or related questions, please contact Diana Davies (ddavies@princeton.edu).
 
RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
For more information and health tips related to swine flu, visit the UHS website:
http://www.princeton.edu/uhs/news/archive/?id=723
 
Also, if you are interested in monitoring updates on your own, the most recent information is available on the CDC website:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm
 
For travelers, the University Travel website includes additional information about University travel policies and travel and safety resources:
http://www.princeton.edu/travel/policies/
 
Updated information about swine flu and available resources will be made available in coming days on the University's Emergency Preparedness website:
http://www.princeton.edu/main/administration/safety/emergency/

Last update: 20-May-2009 1:37 PM
Web page comments or errors: Robin Izzo.