Pandemic Information

Niagara University H1N1 Flu Preparations for Academic Year 2009-2010

We are well aware of the continued spread of the influenza virus and the continued identification of the Novel Flu (H1N1) virus throughout Western New York and the surrounding area. This virus appears to be spread like other influenza viruses through droplets from person to person, mostly when an infected person coughs or sneezes near another person. The spread of this virus has been ongoing throughout the summer months and the Center for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health have projected an increase in identified cases throughout the fall semester. It is estimated that 30-50 percent of the U.S. population and 1/3 of the world population will become infected with some severity of this illness.

Niagara University has taken this projection seriously and has implemented all recommendations issued to institutions of higher learning by the Center for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health as of Aug. 20, 2009. The health and safety of our students and staff is our utmost concern.  Together, we will make a difference.

Increased Awareness and Prevention

• Encourage healthy practices among students, staff and faculty through a campuswide educational campaign focusing on frequent and thorough hand washing and respiratory etiquette.
• Promote frequent hand hygiene by increasing the availability of liquid hand sanitizer in high traffic areas as identified by the pandemic core team in August 2009. These areas include the residence halls, dining facility, Kieran Center, library, health center, computer labs, and Gallagher student center.
• Encourage participation of all students, staff and faculty in the annual flu shot clinic offered in lower-level Gallagher center on Oct. 29, 2009. from 3­-6:30 p.m.
• Meet with all residence life personnel in August 2009 to review signs and symptoms of influenza and the prevention techniques they should encourage students residing within the dorms to follow. Instruct RAs on how to utilize the mandatory surveillance reporting form for all students noted with influenza-like illness within their residence and provide them with surgical masks and instructions on encouraging students to wear one immediately while awaiting medical evaluation.
• Provide a link on the university home page to our influenza preparedness Web page and the health center Web page.
• Post the six steps to appropriate hand hygiene in residence bathrooms near sinks prior to arrival of students. Place in all lavatories throughout campus to promote hand hygiene.
• Review all departmental infection control procedures.

Monitoring and Surveillance

• Establish communication protocol between the student health center and residence halls for surveillance and reporting of influenza-like illness in the residence halls on a daily basis.
• All students reporting to health services will be screened for influenza-like illness. On triage, all students presenting with influenza-like illness will be provided a mask to wear, given the respiratory illness questionnaire to fill out, and separated into the influenza-like illness waiting room.
• Meet with all departmental directors to review human resources policies and procedures for absenteeism and how to report all influenza-like illnesses within their offices to HR for monitoring and surveillance.

Education

• Initiate a campuswide educational campaign aimed at all students, staff and faculty, instructing them on the signs and symptoms of influenza, treatments and need for self-isolation.
• RAs will distribute NYSDOH Healthy Habits Pocket Card "Keep Your Germs to Yourself!" to all residents of their floors at their welcome meeting during the first weekend of student arrival into the residence halls.
• Poster campaign will reinforce good respiratory etiquette and proper hand hygiene. Posters will be distributed and posted throughout the residence halls, dining facility, areas of large gatherings, and offices.
• Brown bag lunches will be offered to staff and faulty stressing prevention, early identification and self-isolation as an intervention to decrease transmission.
• Small and large group programs on influenza teachings will be offered to students through our in-dorm education programs, hosted by our health educator coordinator and director of health services.
• Influenza teaching will be provided to students through table talk on Thursday evening, offered by the health educator coordinator.
• Additional educational resources will be provided to the Niagara community via health education links on the health services Web page. These links will offer students, staff and faculty current influenza information and prevention techniques.
• Send an e-mail in August 2009 to all students attending NU, informing them of potential influenza outbreak for fall semester and encouraging them to come prepared with an influenza flu kit. Instructions on how to call health services for appointments, influenza prevention techniques and self-isolation practices will be provided to students prior to arrival.
• Provide information to parents through articles in the parent newsletter, The Campus Link.

Continuation of Service

• All departments will review their individual pandemic response plan, identifying how they will function with fewer staff and noting restrictions of hours and services.
• All departments will ensure that they are prepared to implement all office functions under the current designated threat level.
• All departments will be prepared to implement social distancing per their departmental pandemic plan.
• If closure of the university is warranted, protocol previously established for closing the campus as identified in the university pandemic plan would be implemented.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Students exhibiting symptoms of influenza-like illness will be instructed to call the health center at Ext. 8390 to speak with a health care provider.
• All students reporting to health services with influenza-like illness will be provided a surgical mask to wear immediately upon arrival. Posters will be placed on entryway door with masks readily available at the entrance. Students presenting with influenza-like illness will be placed in a separate waiting room by the staff at health services.
• Students presenting with influenza-like illness will be asked to complete the respiratory questionnaire for influenza-like illness screening.
• The health center will be prepared to distribute "flu kits" for ill students presenting with influenza-like illness. These kits will include a digital thermometer, surgical masks, hand sanitizer, cough drops, and normal saline nasal spray. Over-the-counter fever reducer, anti-histamines and decongestants will be dispensed per direction of the medical provider. Educational teaching sheets on influenza, nausea and vomiting will be provided, as well as "What to do if you get flu-like symptoms" and "Keep Your Germs to Yourself" handouts.
• Ill students that demonstrate mild influenza-like illness symptoms will return to their dorms if they are unable to go home. Students will be instructed on self-isolation techniques to prevent the transmission of the illness to other students. Students will not be reassigned to another room or building once diagnosed with influenza-like illness. Guidance for housing requirements and self-isolation of residential students with flu-like illness will be obtained from the CDC Guidance for Response to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 academic year.
• If possible, residential students with flu-like illness who live relatively close to the campus should return to their home to keep from making others sick. These students should be instructed to do so in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible. For example, travel by private car would be preferable over use of public transportation.
• Students with flu-like illness should stay away from classes and limit interactions with other people (self-isolate), except to seek medical care, for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay away from others during this period even if they are taking antiviral drugs for treatment of the flu.
• Instruct students with flu-like illness to promptly seek medical attention if they have a medical condition that puts them at increased risk of severe illness from flu, are concerned about the illness, or develop severe symptoms such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing.