Penn State plans for flu season, asks for community cooperation
Tuesday, August 11, 2009The H1N1 virus (previously called swine flu) has taken a backseat to other news lately, but public health officials expect it to re-emerge this fall, creating a number of challenges for institutions like Penn State. To take a proactive approach to the expected flu outbreak, University officials are ramping up communications efforts to provide guidelines to students, faculty and staff who may be affected in some way by the H1N1 virus, either contracting the illness themselves, caring for family members who may be ill, or avoiding the flu altogether. Minimizing the spread of this highly contagious disease is a significant concern for health officials. The guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for anyone contracting the H1N1 virus require self-isolation -- that means not attending classes, not coming to work and not gathering in public spaces or for group activities. (more)