RN to BSN Program
- Erie County Department of Health:
www.ecdh.org - Center for Disease Control
www.cdc.gov - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
www.pandemicflu.gov
More Information:
- A(H1N1): Just Another Flu
- H1N1 in Pa
www.H1N1inPA.com
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on Preventative Measures
Pandemic Flu Information
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Edinboro University's Response
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Dear Member of the Edinboro Community and visitors, In the university's proactive effort to keep you informed by communicating the most current available information concerning H1N1 Influenza, commonly called the "Swine Flu," this website has been created for your convenience. Here you will find appropriate links to important sites such as the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also included will be the latest Edinboro campus information and updates relevant to ongoing issues involving the current H1N1 outbreak. As part of this proactive initiative, Edinboro University's Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) regularly meets to update our own pandemic and additional plans for dealing with the H1N1 issue should that be needed during summer. The CERT includes campus health and safety officials, and other campus leaders. The team is also in daily contact with officials of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Also, Edinboro's team of professionals at the Ghering Health and Wellness Center continue their daily communication with the local and state Departments of Health, receiving the most current information available from the CDC. As always, in the event you experience flu-like symptoms, please contact Student Health Services at 732-2743, or another health care provider immediately. We will provide updates as new or relevant information becomes available. Sincerely, Walter Patterson Darla Elder, R.N.,C.,M.S.N. Administrative Director of Student Health Services |
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In our ongoing efforts to keep you up-to-date in regards to all campus health and safety issues, please be advised that an Edinboro University student has been diagnosed with the novel H1N1 influenza virus. This diagnosis was not unexpected especially given the spread of H1N1, commonly called the "swine flu," on many college and university campuses, including some locally. The student in question has been socially isolated on campus in accordance with our pandemic plan and recovery is expected in several days. Because of daily coverage by national media about H1N1, and because we are in receipt of such daily media inquiries, we felt it appropriate to announce to the campus community this first diagnosed case of H1N1 on campus. We will not issue announcements regarding any further cases. Although we expect there will be media publicity regarding H1N1 cases at Edinboro University, we will not publicly announce them outside of the campus community. Instead, communicable illnesses will be treated as they have been in the past and according to university policy. Although this new strain of the flu is serious, it is generally no more severe than the seasonal flu. As such, there is no need to panic. As recommended by our health care professionals at the Ghering Health and Wellness Center, please exercise common sense hygienic practices, i.e., washing your hands frequently, using hand-sanitizers, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your sleeve. Our Campus Emergency Response Team continues to monitor the H1N1 situation, and our health care professionals are in frequent contact with the Erie County and Pennsylvania health departments. For more information, including Frequently Asked Questions and links to the websites of the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, please visit http://www.edinboro.edu/departments/ghering/swine-flu.dot Please rest assured that we will continue to provide you with updated information as the situation warrants. 10/1/2009 By all estimates from public health officials, it now appears likely the upcoming flu season will impact our area. While it is reasonable to speculate students, faculty and staff will eventually encounter the illness and should know what to do if they or others with whom they are in contact have the flu, it's also important to note that The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe severity and hospitalization rates for H1N1 are similar to, or less than they are for more traditional influenza strains. On an annual basis, our professionals at the Ghering Health and Wellness Center diagnose and help to treat cases of the seasonal flu. Such has been the case in recent months. Yet, if our campus is well-informed about this issue, there is no cause for alarm. For updates and answers to the most frequently asked questions , click here. Influenza can be a serious respiratory infection in that it affects millions each year. It spreads easily through the respiratory droplets from infected persons. Since symptoms of seasonal and the novel H1N1 flu are similar, they are impossible to distinguish from each other based solely on symptoms alone. Recovery from each could take four days to a week with rest and recommended self-care. As a result of consultations with public health authorities in Erie County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, university officials continue to regularly monitor the situation. The university's Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been meeting regularly since last spring to plan for the eventuality of H1N1 on our campus. CERT members are aware of issues and concerns relevant to all university divisions and departments, and the information provided here has been developed to answer many of your questions regarding flu-like illnesses in the classroom and workplace. Helpful national and global websites include the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Dear Member of the Edinboro Community: From the many reports in the news media over the summer, you've heard that Novel H1N1 influenza, commonly known as the "swine flu," is expected to re-emerge during the fall and winter, in particular in schools and college campuses. Therefore, it is not realistic to assume Edinboro University will be immune from what has been declared a world-wide pandemic. In our continuing proactive efforts, your health care professionals and members of the Campus Emergency Response Team have not only been meeting regularly to monitor the ongoing situation but also to plan for any contingencies involving a potential H1N1 outbreak. What's important for all of us to understand is that there is no reason for panic or even for alarm at this point. The vast majority of previously reported H1N1 cases have been mild. For now, however, we are doing what we can to keep our institution operating as usual. Here are a few things you can do to help: • Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners or wipes also are effective and encouraged. If this year's flu season becomes more severe, we may take additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus, depending upon the extent and duration of the illness. In any case, rest assured that your health and safety is paramount to us. We will notify you by e-mail, website and various other avenues of communication of any additional changes to Edinboro University's strategy to prevent the spread of flu on our campus and locations in Erie and Meadville, as well as informing you of all new and ongoing developments regarding H1N1. Ronald C. Martin, M.D., Medical Director Ghering Health and Wellness Center 7/1/2009 WELCOME TO OUR SUMMER CAMPS!Dear Member of the Edinboro Community, All Edinboro campus activities, including summer classes and all scheduled summer camps, are being held without interruption. Although unlikely, any changes to those scheduled events will be promptly announced to you via e-mail, E2Campus text messaging (for those currently registered), Edinboro Hotline (732-2676), our website and the regional news media. I'm pleased to report that all operators of summer camps in Pennsylvania, including those who will hold camps at Edinboro University, have received extensive and detailed instructions from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Health Department in regard to handling any potential cases of H1N1 should they occur during these camps, as well as detailed instructions for reducing the impact of H1N1 and limiting its spread. Edinboro University's Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) meets regularly, updating our own pandemic plan, and also proactively designing additional plans for dealing with this issue if necessary during the summer months. The CERT includes campus health and safety officials, as well as other campus leaders. CERT is also regular contact with officials of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Our health care professionals at the Ghering Health and Wellness Center continue their consultation with the local and state Departments of Health and are receiving the most current information available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Once again, there is no cause for alarm at this time. We will update you as new or relevant information becomes available. In addition to contacting Student Health Services, further questions can be directed to me at kfabrizio@edinboro.edu (732-1387) or Jeff Pinski in University Communications at jpinski@edinboro.edu (732-1742). Sincerely, 5/1/2009 Dear Member of the Edinboro Community, In the university's ongoing efforts to be proactive in communicating the most current available information concerning H1N1 Influenza, commonly called the "Swine Flu", I'm pleased to announce that as of this morning our Edinboro campus and locations in Erie and Meadville have no confirmed or even suspected cases of H1N1. In fact, there are no confirmed cases yet in Pennsylvania, and no schools or universities are closed in the Commonwealth. All Edinboro campus activities, including classes and today's Commencement-related events, and Saturday's brunch and Commencement, will be held as scheduled. Although unlikely, any changes to those scheduled events will be promptly announced to you via e-mail, E2Campus text messaging (for those currently registered), Edinboro Hotline (732-2676), our website and the regional news media. As a precautionary measure, however, Edinboro University's Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been meeting daily, updating our own pandemic plan, and also proactively designing additional plans for dealing with this issue if necessary during the summer months. The CERT includes campus health and safety officials, as well as other campus leaders. CERT is also in daily contact with officials of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Our health care professionals at the Ghering Health and Wellness Center continue their daily consultation with the local and state Departments of Health and are receiving the most current information available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Once again, there is no cause for alarm at this time. H1N1cases diagnosed in other states have been relatively mild. While we continue to be cautious in diligently monitoring the situation, we also join with health care professionals in advising common sense precautions and hygienic practices listed on Edinboro's web page, as well as a link to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site. This can also be accessed by going directly to http://www.edinboro.edu/departments/ghering/swine-flu.dot. Another useful resource offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health can be found at http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp. In the event you experience any flu-like symptoms, please contact Student Health Services at 732-2743, or another health care provider immediately. We will update you as new or relevant information becomes available. In addition to contacting Student Health Services, further questions can be directed to me at kfabrizio@edinboro.edu (732-1387) or Jeff Pinski in University Communications at jpinski@edinboro.edu (732-1742). Sincerely, Kimberly A. Fabrizio Executive Assistant to the President
While education is our preeminent mission at Edinboro University, our priority will always be the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. As such, this advisory is a proactive and preventative measure to inform you about current global and national issues involving swine influenza, or the swine flu. We have prepared this advisory based on information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At this time, there is no cause for alarm. There are no cases of swine flu on our campus, nor have there been cases reported in Pennsylvania yet. Swine flu cases diagnosed in other states have not resulted in fatalities and, in fact, have been relatively mild. It is our intent to update you as new information becomes available. However, in addition to the contact information for Student Health Services above, those with further questions can contact me directly at kfabrizio@edinboro.edu (732-1387) or Jeff Pinski in University Communications at jpinski@edinboro.edu (732-1742). This advisory is designed to keep you, as a member of the Edinboro University community, as well-informed as possible in the area of campus health.
Kimberly A. Fabrizio Executive Assistant to the President |
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