TCC Preparedness: H1N1 Flu Information Update: August 25, 2009

Colleagues:

I write to provide an update on the H1N1 flu outbreak and the precautionary steps the college is taking to address it.

As you may know, in June, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its influenza pandemic alert from Phase 5 to Phase 6, the highest level, reporting that confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus had been identified in 74 countries. While the reach of the disease has achieved sufficient breadth to warrant the highest level of pandemic alert, its severity remains moderate, meaning that most people recover from the illness without hospitalization or medical care.

Reporting agencies, including the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), have ceased reporting individual cases of H1N1 infection and, now, report only cases requiring hospitalization or resulting in death. As of August 20, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had reported 7,983 hospitalizations and 522 deaths associated with the H1N1 virus in the United States. Unlike the seasonal flu which typically affects the very young and the elderly more than other age groups, national data from CDC indicate that individuals in the 24-years and younger age groups are much more likely to be affected by the H1N1 virus.

Looking back to previous pandemics, such as the 1918 instance, one can see that the initial wave of the illness’s appearance is typically followed four to six months later by a second, more severe wave. Applying that pattern to the current situation in which the H1N1 virus first appeared in the United States in late April, the second wave may be expected to manifest in the late summer/early fall timeframe.

What does all this mean for TCC as we are beginning the Fall semester? Given the general pattern of pandemics and the particular circumstances of this one, our watchword must be “vigilance” — be watchful against the spread of the disease. The virus is passed mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something — such as a surface or object — with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. According to the VDH: “Symptoms in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported vomiting and diarrhea.”

CDC and VDH offer the following steps to decrease the spread of the flu:

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
5. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Note that the CDC/VDH recommendation represents a change from the original recommendation to stay home for 7 days from the onset of the illness. For these purposes, a fever is defined as 100° F (37.8°C).

Regarding immunizations, we understand that the H1N1 flu vaccine flu is in development, undergoing clinical trials, and is expected to be available in the fall. When it is available, CDC advice to the medical community will be to provide it to individuals based on a prioritization plan that puts those at greatest risk for being significantly affected by the H1N1 flu first. (Additional  information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.) Of course, since we are also entering upon the regular seasonal flu period, you are strongly encouraged to be immunized against the seasonal flu as soon as that immunization becomes available, unless your medical provider recommends against your being immunized. We expect that TCC will offer the seasonal flu immunization on campus as we did last year.

Which brings me to what we are doing at TCC in response to the flu outbreak.

As we have since the beginning of the outbreak, we are continuing to use the information resources of VDH and CDC, as well as those of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and each of the localities we serve.  We have conducted an extensive review of the college's Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan and convened our COOP Team to conduct precautionary planning. We have also implemented a number of precautionary measures designed to help you and our students reduce the likelihood of becoming sick:

1. Hand-sanitizing stations have been distributed across the college in public locations. These stations dispense an alcohol-based gel cleanser without the need to touch the station.
2. Canisters of sanitizing wipes have been provided to offices across the college — these should be used to clean surfaces that might be contaminated by someone's sneezing or coughing on them or touching them after coughing or sneezing.
3. Custodial Services staff are cleansing surfaces that are frequently touched by numerous individuals, such as wall light switches and door knobs, on a nightly basis.
4. Campus staff have implemented a regimen of frequent cleaning of publicly available computing stations — their keyboards, mice, and monitors.

We are continuing to monitor employee absentee rates on a daily basis to help identify any impact the H1N1 flu outbreak may be having on the college’s operations.

Should you have additional suggestions for consideration, please let me know.

In summary, let me reiterate three essential points:

1. The planning and measures we are implementing are precautionary — they should not be taken as reason for alarm — they are what you would expect the college to do in this situation.
2. The best protection we have to reduce the risk of infection is to be mindful of good hygiene procedures and practice them consistently.
3. If you are sick, stay home — remember that you are considered to be infectious for 24 hours after you are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]). The CDC website offers advice on how to take care of yourself and others.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

Frank Dunn
Vice President for Administration
Tidewater Community College
121 College Place

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