Emergency Guidelines for the Campus Community

Swine Influenza

April 30, 2009 E-Mail

TO: Princeton University campus community
FROM: Environmental Health and Safety and University Health Services
 
RE: Update on swine flu outbreak; swine flu web page
DATE: April 30, 2009

Princeton University officials want to inform our community that New Jersey state health officials announced today, Thursday, April 30, that there are five positive cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus confirmed in the state. There have been no positive cases of swine flu on the University campus, and there is no immediate impact on University operations or activities at this time. However, it is more important than ever to practice good hygiene.

The University has created a Web page on its Emergency Preparedness website to provide up-to-date information about swine flu and to keep the campus informed about the University's preparedness efforts. Students, faculty and staff with questions about health, travel, and University operations, activities and resources should visit the website at http://web.princeton.edu/sites/emergency/swineflu/.

A University-wide team has been established to ensure that we are fully prepared to act quickly to this evolving public health incident. 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. 

Princeton will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies in light of the public health emergency declared by the federal government as a result of confirmed cases of swine flu across the country.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION:

See below for additional information especially for individuals planning to travel to highly affected areas, but all members of our community 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, please contact your healthcare provider by telephone for information on treatment, and avoid contact with others.

Students who were exposed to someone with swine flu, who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or who recently traveled to Mexico, 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.
 
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:

• Avoid contact with others if you become ill.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and properly dispose of the tissue (and if no tissues are available, sneeze into the bend of your arm, not your hands).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, 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 University swine flu web page:
http://web.princeton.edu/sites/emergency/swineflu/.

For details of the state's announcement of confirmed New Jersey cases:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dhss/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=3341  

Last update: 30-Apr-2009 5:32 PM
Web page comments or errors: Robin Izzo.