To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Dr. Robert Palinkas" <palinkas@illinois.edu>

Reply-To: palinkas@illinois.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Flu Preparedness

Most medical authorities predict we are likely to face a very difficult 
flu season.

Novel H1N1 Influenza A, sometimes called swine flu, is expected to affect 
schools and universities nationwide as soon as early fall. This virus 
tends to infect young people more easily and severely than people born 
before 1957.

The vaccine for seasonal flu, the common flu that occurs annually and 
typically peaks in February in Illinois, does not protect against H1N1 
flu. Most experts agree, however, that vaccination with the seasonal flu 
vaccine early in the fall will help reduce the chance of having a flu-like 
illness confused with the more serious H1N1 flu. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to encourage medical facilities to 
offer access to this year?s seasonal flu vaccine as early as next month. 

A vaccine for the novel H1N1 Influenza A is under development and probably 
will arrive in limited quantities in mid- to late fall. In the meantime, 
it is prudent to take reasonable measures to reduce the chance of exposure 
and spread of H1N1 influenza.

It is important to develop basic good habits. It is most important that 
people cover their cough to reduce spread of the virus to others. People 
should carry and use disposable hand tissues, wash their hands frequently, 
or, alternatively, use an alcohol-based sanitizer. The CDC (www.cdc.gov) 
has helpful Web sites that include videos and detailed information about 
these and other measures for flu preparedness.

Those who have an influenza-like illness, with symptoms such as cough, 
fever and sore throat, should stay out of close contact with others and 
not come to work or class to reduce the spread of infection. Typically, 
infection with these viruses can cause a person to be ill for a week.

Everyone should have a plan in the event they become ill. The overwhelming 
majority of people will do fairly well after a week of staying home and 
utilizing common, practical home-care measures. For this reason, ill 
students should plan to either go home to their family for about a week, 
or spend a week in relative isolation in a room to avoid infecting others. 
During this time, they will need ready access to thermometers, hydrating 
liquids, easily prepared foods, a fever medication, hand sanitizer and 
facial tissues. Students would be wise to come to campus with these items. 

It is quite possible health-care facilities may advocate home care for 
many of the less sick. Therefore, it is important people check Web sites 
such as the McKinley site (www.mckinley.illinois.edu/), which links to the 
CDC site, to stay up to date.

It is particularly important that faculty assist in helping to reduce 
exposure on campus, such as developing reasonable absence requirements, 
considering alternative distance-learning options, promoting good habits 
in the classroom and most important, encouraging people who are sick to 
stay home. Likewise, university staff should consider how to plan for a 
possible difficult flu season.

Finally, it is important that we all try to help one another and be on the 

look out for individuals who might need food deliveries, assistance with 
note taking, and other measures. Planning and simple common-sense measures 
will go a long way to protect the health of our community.
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor

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