Note to All Students from the President 9/3/09
Dear DePaul Students,
As we begin the new academic year, I wanted to let you know that DePaul has made detailed plans to manage a flu outbreak on campus. Based on everything we have learned from local and national health officials, it appears likely that virtually every large business, organization and school will experience cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance to colleges and universities (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/guidance/) to manage outbreaks, which DePaul will follow. The key to success at limiting transmission is self-isolation. This is simple, yet powerful, advice. If you are sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home or go home until you have been fever-free without assistance from fever-reducing medication for 24 hours. You may want to alert parents and emergency contacts that if you become ill, they may be called to take you home because health officials are asking sick people to stay away from public transportation.
A vaccine specifically formulated for H1N1 flu is expected to be available nationwide in late October, and the CDC is encouraging people aged 5 to 24 to get inoculated because they have had the highest incidence of this flu strain. The Sage Medical Group is working to secure shots for DePaul students. Details will follow as soon as they are available.
The university has continued the enhanced cleaning procedures it put into place last year. This includes use of stronger disinfecting products, more frequent cleaning of commonly touched surfaces and hand-sanitizing stations around campus. We encourage you to do your part in helping stop the spread of germs by:
Practicing good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing; alcohol-based hand cleaners are effective
Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and coughing or sneezing into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands
Cleaning commonly used surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, and countertops frequently
Monitoring your health by checking for fever
Educating yourself about the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination by clicking http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination and learning about the seasonal flu vaccine by clicking http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
The university has updated its informational Web site, where it provides links to major local, national and international health authorities and will post critical updates as necessary. Please feel free to check the site regularly at http://depaul.edu/campusNotice.asp. This page also can be reached via DePaul's home page.Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and coughing or sneezing into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands
Cleaning commonly used surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, and countertops frequently
Monitoring your health by checking for fever
Educating yourself about the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination by clicking http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination and learning about the seasonal flu vaccine by clicking http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
Be well,
Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.
President
