Chancellor Robert Coombe issued a statement Monday evening reassuring students that the university has a plan of action should there be an outbreak of the swine flu on campus.
Coombe’s message came as health officials nationwide were warning Americans about the possible spread of the swine flu, which was first diagnosed last week in Mexico.
“Anyone with flu-like symptoms is advised to avoid contact with others. Swine flu symptoms are the same as other types of flu and include: fever greater than 100 degrees, headache, body ache, chills and fatigue,” Coombe said in the statement to the DU community.
A team comprised of representatives from across the campus is in regular contact to handle issues, like disease outbreaks, that arise for students, faculty and staff.
The Health and Counseling Center is stocked with medications for an outbreak of the swine flu at DU, according to health center executive director Dr. Sam Alexander.
“We are prepared for any sort of pandemic at any particular level,” Alexander said.
The university first instituted its pandemic plan of action in 2006 and is continuously updating it. The last update to the plan was in March.
The health center is stockpiled with non-expiring items to treat cases of the swine flu and would move on to further steps and medications depending on the spread of the virus.
“When it comes to pandemic planning, it’s not a question of if, but when,” said Alexander. “There haven’t been any cases so far in Colorado, but we have to assume there will be.”
Of the cases of swine flu reported in the United States, symptoms have been similar to the seasonal flu. The cases in the United States have been relatively mild so far, said Dr. Alexander.
He echoed the chancellor’s warning that students, faculty and staff with flu-like symptoms should distance themselves from others.
“We do not recommend that they come in (to the health center), unless their symptoms get worse,” said Alexander. “The risk of going anywhere is infecting others.”
Students who feel symptoms should not go to class, and those living in residence halls should leave their rooms as little as possible.
Faculty and staff should contact their primary care physician.
Students also should contact faculty prior to missing class to discuss expectations and assignments, the chancellor said in his statement.
A flu shot does not protect against the swine flu, and students cannot get swine flu from eating pork, he said.
University health officials strongly encourage everyone to be vigilant regarding hand washing using soap and water.
Confirmed cases of the swine flu have been reported in Mexico, Canada and Spain as well as in California, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, and New York.
Students who traveled more than a week ago to one of the locations where cases have been confirmed should not be concerned about contracting swine flu, as the incubation period for the virus is a week or less, said Alexander.
As of Monday, the U.S. government has confirmed 40 cases of swine flu, but only one required hospitalization and none were fatal.
On Monday, the World Health Organization raised the swine flu from a level three to a level four on the WHO’s six-point pandemic severity scale. According to the WHO Website, this means the virus has moved from predominately animal infections to human-to-human transmission.
Level four also distinguishes the pandemic as causing “community-level” outbreaks.
Though the U.S. government has issued travel warnings to Mexico, the WHO has not advised countries to impose travel bans or shut down international borders.
