Swine Influenza Update 3 p.m. April 30, 2009

April 30, 2009

To All UWM Community Members,

Here is an update on Swine Influenza A (H1N1) here at UWM.

First, no cases of swine flu in UWM faculty, staff and students have been reported to us.

Second, we have activated special planning procedures designed to anticipate and respond quickly to emergencies. Campus healthcare, emergency and administrative officials are meeting frequently so that we can respond quickly to the latest guidance being provided to the campus from the City of Milwaukee Health Department and to information from other organizations.

Third, UWM has set up a website dedicated to reporting the latest UWM information related to swine flu and providing links to key public health websites:

http://www.emergency.uwm.edu/

If your family or friends are concerned about public health developments at UWM, please encourage them to monitor this website. On the site you will also find links to what should be primary external sources of reliable information: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which updates its information daily, and the City of Milwaukee Health Department.

Fourth, I want to encourage everyone to continue to practice good prevention strategies to stay healthy:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Fifth, continue to be aware of the symptoms of swine flu, which are similar to seasonal influenza:

• fever greater than 100 degrees,
• cough,
• sore throat,
• body aches,
• headaches,
• chills and fatigue, and
• in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting

Sixth, if you have flu-like symptoms, it is important that you stay at home. Confirm that you have a fever by using a thermometer. Work with your regular physician, if at all possible. Also, it is important to call your health care provider BEFORE going to a healthcare facility.

The City of Milwaukee has a hotline that is available at 414-286-3616, and we encourage you to call that number, and not Norris Health Center, for general information.

Please know that at the Norris Health Center, we are focusing on our response to swine flu. We are asking students who have routine or long term medical problems to wait to call or schedule an appointment. Norris may need to further restrict appointments for visits as this situation evolves. We may not be able to respond as promptly to needs beyond swine flu.

We also ask that if you have flu-like symptoms to call Norris at 414-229-4716 and not come to Norris Health Center. We need to be able to get accurate information, including your temperature, to protect the health of you and others. If you are a Norris patient and do not have symptoms but have concerns about swine flu, our Health Promotion and Wellness Department at 414-229-6668 can answer your questions.

The Norris Health Center and UWM administrators continue to work progressively toward safeguarding the health of the UWM campus community. Thank you for helping us do this work by following these guidelines.

Thank you.

Julie Bonner, MD
Executive Director of Norris Health Center
Campus Health Officer

Swine Flu Update

To All UWM Students:

I want to make sure you are aware of the Swine Influenza A (H1N1) outbreaks in the United States, Canada and Mexico that have occurred in the past week.

At this time there are no reported cases in Wisconsin.

I want to remind you, however, of some good strategies to stay healthy and to make sure you know what to look for if you are concerned about yourself, your roommate, your friend or a family member.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. There are many things you can to do preventing getting and spreading influenza:

*Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

*Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

*Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular seasonal influenza and include:

*fever greater than 100 degrees,

*body aches,

*coughing,

*sore throat,

*respiratory congestion, and

*in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.

If you have flu-like symptoms, stay at home and contact your physician or Norris Health Center at 414-229-4716. It is especially important if you have traveled to Mexico or the states bordering Mexico within seven days of your symptoms appearing that you call your healthcare provider in advance of going to the office.

The City of Milwaukee has a hotline that is available at 414-286-3616 and we encourage you to call that number for general information; we are working closely with local and state public health officials on this issue. The city's website along with the websites maintained by the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are excellent sources of up-to-date information in the upcoming days and weeks.

Website links:

CDC
State of Wisconsin
City of Milwaukee

Consider passing this information on to friends, parents, grandparents and neighbors so that we are all proactively helping now and in the future with the public health of our community.

Thank you.

Julie Bonner, MD
Executive Director of Norris Health Center
Campus Health Officer

Influenza update from Secretary of Administration

To All Wisconsin State Employees:

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared a public health emergency in response to recent Swine Influenza A (H1N1) outbreaks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. At this time there are no reported cases in Wisconsin.

State officials, led by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), have been monitoring the situation since Friday and continue to observe this situation very closely.

The following advice is from the Department Health Services:

It is important that everyone remain calm, use common sense and continue simple good health practices like washing your hands. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.

If you have flu-like symptoms, stay at home and contact your physician. Symptoms include:

*fever greater than 100 degrees,

*body aches,

*coughing,

*sore throat,

*respiratory congestion, and

*in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.

More information may be found at http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/

We will continue to provide new information as it becomes available.

Michael L. Morgan
Secretary of Administration

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Campus Health Officer Addendum:

Our state and local public health officials in a press conference today shared 4 key points:

1. There are no current confirmed cases in Wisconsin but it would not be a surprise if we had cases in the upcoming days and weeks.

2. The simple strategies of frequent hand-washing, staying home from school or work when ill, and distancing yourself from someone who is ill are good steps for our entire community now just as they are during seasonal influenza season.

3. If you have the flu-like symptoms described above AND have traveled within seven days to an affected area, it is especially important to call in advance before you go to your healthcare provider.

4. State and local government agencies are asking individuals, workplaces, schools, and other community groups to be proactive in working with each other to decrease the impact that this flu virus might have on our state and local communities.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been in contact with the City of Milwaukee and state Health Department and is monitoring the situation. The city’s hotline is available at 414-286-3616 and its website along with the state and CDC website will be the best source of getting up to date information in the upcoming few days and weeks.

Related Links:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/
http://www.milwaukee.gov/fluseason/2009SwineFlu.htm