Past Updates
Swine Flu Update as of 2 pm, April 30, 2009
At this time, no cases of the swine influenza virus have been detected university-wide among UMDNJ patients, students, faculty or staff.
UMDNJ continues to operate under normal conditions. Events and activities will continue as scheduled.
The UMDNJ Office of Emergency Management (UMDNJ OEM) continues to monitor the situation and is coordinating the UMDNJ-wide effort to prepare the university community for any changes in activities that might become appropriate. UMDNJ OEM conducted a university-wide briefing at noon today. UMDNJ OEM is working closely with other university departments, and is in regular contact with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP), the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJ OEM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as with local and county health and emergency management agencies.
At today’s briefing, UMDNJ medical leaders urged everyone to continue to exercise sound judgment and follow the standard precautionary measures, as outlined by the CDC:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick to prevent others from catching your illness.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and cough into your sleeve to avoid the spread of germs
- Wash your hands often to protect yourself from germs.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to avoid the spread of germs.
- Practice good health habits – get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
The CDC has a swine flu website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu, which is updated regularly.
Several relevant websites can provide more detailed, up-to-date information; links to these and to other University-specific information are posted at http://ready.umdnj.edu/h1n1flu.shtml.
Most state/city health departments and large hospital clinical labs can detect the influenza virus, and state public health labs can rule out a potential swine flu virus. However, at this time, only testing at CDC can provide positive identification of the swine flu virus.
Certainly, anyone entering or leaving an area with known cases (e.g., Mexico) or being exposed to a sick person from such an area, should be on the alert for the onset of flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, dry throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). You don’t need to experience all of these symptoms - a couple of symptoms are usually sufficient. If you suspect the flu and it appears severe, you are advised to seek appropriate medical attention and indicate where you have traveled. Given the worldwide situation, health officials in large cities are advising people with mild colds or flu to avoid hospital emergency rooms for fear that numerous visits may overwhelm our healthcare infrastructure.
April 28, 2009
H1N1 Influenza Update as of 5:30pm, April 28, 2009
There are five (5) probable cases of H1N1 Influenza in New Jersey; specimens have been sent to the CDC for confirmatory testing. All cases are mild.
The CDC and US Department of State have issued travel advisories for Mexico.
The State of New Jersey has 800,000 courses of antiviral medication in its stockpile, and has requested an additional 300,000 courses from the Strategic National Stockpile. To date, there has been no shortage of commercially available antiviral medication in New Jersey or the rest of the country.
H1N1 Influenza Update as of 4:30 pm, April 27, 2009
No cases of the H1N1 Influenza virus have been reported in New Jersey, however the following is provided in an effort to keep you informed regarding this situation and to suggest precautions to take in order to minimize risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed the presence of a newly identified swine influenza virus in several states.
No fatalities attributed to the H1N1 Influenza virus have been reported in the United States.
UMDNJ is open and continues to operate under normal conditions. Events and activities will continue as scheduled.
The following standard precautionary measures, as outlined by the CDC, are recommended:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick to prevent others from catching your illness.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands often to protect yourself from germs.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to avoid the spread of germs.
- Practice good health habits - get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
The CDC has established a H1N1 Influenza website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu, which is updated regularly.
The UMDNJ Office of Emergency Management (UMDNJ OEM), in coordination with other University departments, and along with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP), the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJ OEM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with cooperation of local and county health and emergency management agencies, is closely monitoring the situation to prepare the University Community for any necessary changes in action.
While there are no specific travel restrictions in place at this time, all those scheduled to travel in the near future should be aware of the health conditions at their destination.
Several relevant websites can provide more detailed, up-to-date information; links to these and to other University-specific information will be posted at http://ready.umdnj.edu/h1n1flu.shtml.
Most state/city health departments and large hospital clinical labs can detect the influenza virus, and state public health labs can rule out a potential H1N1 Influenza virus. However, at this time, only testing at CDC can provide positive identification of the H1N1 Influenza virus.
Certainly, anyone entering or leaving an area with known cases (e.g., Mexico) or being exposed to a sick person from such an area, should be on the alert for onset of flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, muscle ache, chills, dry throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). You don’t need to experience all of these symptoms- a couple are usually sufficient. If you suspect the flu and it appears severe, you are advised to seek appropriate medical attention and indicate where you have traveled. Given the worldwide alarm, health officials in large cities are advising people with mild colds or flu to avoid hospital emergency rooms. There is a fear that numerous visits may overwhelm our healthcare infrastructure.
It is not clear at this time whether people vaccinated with the flu vaccine issued in 2008 are protected, because the vaccine did contain another H1N1 virus, like the swine flu variant. The CDC is the protection it might offer. In the meantime, people should assume that they are not protected.
The next few weeks will be an important indicator of disease transmission.
April 27, 2009
On April 26, 2009, the U.S. Government declared a public health emergency related to the swine flu (H1N1) outbreak. As of 3:00pm on April 27, 2009, there were 40 confirmed cases in the United States; all victims appear to have mild symptoms and there have been no deaths in this country.
Guidance for Gatherings
At the beginning of all public events or large social gatherings where groups of people are in close proximity, such as conferences, performances, services, sporting events, and even large classes, hosts are encouraged, along with the emergency exit instructions and reminder to turn off cell phones, to also say something along the lines of:
"Remember...the Surgeon General recommends that you use good cough etiquette at all times. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue, not into your hands. And be sure to wash your hands often, especially after you cough or sneeze."
Useful Information (links)
Higher Education H1N1 Influenza Map http://tinyurl.com/HigherEdH1N1Map
UMDNJ Podcasts and Video (related to pandemic flu) http://www.youtube.com/umdnj and
https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/BrowsePrivately/umdnj.edu.2087411044.02087411050
https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/BrowsePrivately/umdnj.edu.2081811864
URMIA https://www.urmia.org/risk/risk_alert.cfm
IACLEA http://www.iaclea.org/members/pdfs/PandemicResources.pdf
Official Information and Guidance
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
U.S. Government Pandemic Flu Guidance: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
U.S Department of State, International Travel Information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4488.html
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/guidance/flu-faqs.pdf
NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS): http://www.nj.gov/health/er/swineflu/
NJ DHSS H1N1 Hotline for Public and Providers: 866-321-9571
NJ Office of Emergency Management: http://www.state.nj.us/njoem
NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness: http://www.njohsp.gov/
World Health Organization (WHO): http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
