Notice to Laurier Students regarding H1N1 flu virus

As you prepare to arrive on campus for the upcoming academic year, Laurier would like to provide you with important information about the H1N1 flu virus.

In Canada, while most infected individuals have had fairly mild illness and recovered without needing medical treatment, cases of significant illness and deaths have occurred. People with co-existing chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, immune system disorders as well as pregnancy seem to have more significant illness.

Laurier activated its Pandemic Plan in April 2009 when the World Health Organization (WHO) elevated the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4. Laurier’s Plan is aligned with provincial and regional plans to ensure that the University is able to respond appropriately based on current information. The Pandemic Response Team meets and communicates frequently and is in regular contact with local Public Health officials. 

The University has taken a proactive approach and has implemented several prevention initiatives.  These initiatives include installation of hand sanitizing stations throughout campus, ongoing educational programs and the development of a website (www.wlu.ca/pandemic) to keep the Laurier community informed. We encourage you and your family to visit this website to see the plan, the resources available, and to view all new updates as they become available. 

As usual, we will be holding seasonal flu clinics for faculty, staff and students in mid-October and we encourage everyone to be vaccinated.  We will also partner with the Waterloo Public Health Unit to hold clinics for H1N1 vaccination as soon as the vaccine becomes available.

All questions from students, parents, staff and faculty should be directed to: swinefluinfo@wlu.ca. This mailbox is monitored by the Environmental/Occupational Health and Safety Office and Health Services and replies will be returned promptly.

Laurier will continue to proactively monitor the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus to ensure that our community remains safe and disease free.

To assist us, please adhere to the following disease control prevention and control strategies outlined below:

1.        Protect Yourself and Protect Your Community

• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze by using a tissue or cough into “the crook of your elbow” if you don’t’ have a tissue http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=2225&doc_id=24403
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze and before eating. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective (Laurier has installed hand sanitizing stations throughout campus.) http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=2225&doc_id=24405
• If you get sick with cough and fever, Public Health recommends you should stay home and avoid contact with others until your fever has resolved for 24 hours.

2.            Basic First Aid items to consider bringing along.

http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=2225&doc_id=25379           

Bringing along a thermometer when you move to Waterloo or Brantford is a good idea to monitor your health. Also bring hand sanitizer, decongestant, fever reducers (Tylenol/Advil), disinfectant household wipes and your provincial health card. There are several additional web links posted below.

3.            H1N1 Fact Sheet

http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/health.nsf/0/39BFCD5CE8714D75852575A2004D8F95/$file/H1N1_FAQ.pdf?openelement

4.            Steps to Keep Healthy

http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/health.nsf/0/39BFCD5CE8714D75852575A2004D8F95/$file/Six%20Simple%20Steps.pdf?openelement

 5.            How to look after someone at home with H1N1 flu virus

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/guidance-orientation-05-03-eng.php

6.            Information for Parents and Family

http://www.mylaurier.ca/dean/info/parents.htm