Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Swine Flu Alert

To: Campus Community
From: Anita Barkin, Director, Student Health Service
Date: April 28, 2009
Re: Swine Flu

There has been a great deal of media coverage in response to human cases of swine influenza in the United States and abroad. On April 25, a public health advisory was issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, there have been no reported deaths associated with this virus in the U.S. and it is responsive to anti-viral medication. As of April 28, there have been no reported cases in the Carnegie Mellon community or in Pennsylvania.

Swine flu is most commonly spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes into the air that others breathe. The virus can live on surfaces for up to two hours so it is possible that the virus can be transmitted through contact with contaminated objects. An infected person is contagious for one day prior to becoming ill and is contagious for seven days after the onset of symptoms. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Persons who develop flu-like symptoms and have been in close contact with an individual with a confirmed case of swine flu or have traveled to or resided in areas where there are confirmed cases should see a health care provider. Close contact is defined as being within six feet of someone who has the illness and is coughing or sneezing. Persons who suspect they may have swine flu should call their health care provider's office first to receive instructions on how to visit the office so as not to spread the infection to others in the waiting room.

Students should contact the Student Health Service (412-268-2157) if they develop symptoms or have questions or concerns regarding this illness. Our office is open Monday through Saturday and a physician is on call when the office is closed. Faculty and staff experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider, though they can certainly rely on the Student Health Service for any manner of consultation.

Currently, there are no travel restrictions in place; however, the CDC does recommend that individuals planning nonessential travel to Mexico consider postponing their trip. As with State Department advisories, those planning official university travel to these areas should adhere to the recommendations of the CDC.

This public health situation will continue to unfold and our response may need to change accordingly. As you may be aware, Carnegie Mellon already has a plan in place that provides a structure for response to public health issues. We have been in contact with the Allegheny County Health Department and will continue to monitor emergency response and public health sites closely and update the campus community. In the meantime, individuals should practice good cough etiquette and wash their hands frequently in order to prevent the spread of viruses like the swine flu.

The CDC has a regularly updated Web site at http://www.cdc.gov that provides detailed information about transmission, prevention and travel recommendations. We will continue to track local developments through our contacts at the Allegheny County Health Department and will follow recommendations outlined by the CDC as deemed necessary.