University of Maryland News

Flu Update

To the University of Maryland Community:

The strain of the swine influenza type A (H1N1), commonly called swine flu, continues to spread around the world. The United States continues to report the largest number of new H1N1 cases of any country, but most people who have become ill have recovered without requiring medical treatment. Our region is no exception, with numerous new cases appearing.  The University of Maryland continues to carefully monitor the situation on campus.

Over the past three years, the University has developed a well-conceived response and action plan that can be put in place should a major flu outbreak threaten University operations and endanger faculty, staff and students. That plan has been reviewed by a number of international health authorities and has been vetted by our University’s senior leadership. For details about the plan, visit http://www.umd.edu/emergencypreparedness/pandemic_flu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Given the nature of this flu virus, the University of Maryland Health Center urges you to take some simple preventive steps that will dramatically decrease the possibility of contracting the virus. These steps include:  

•    Stay home when you are sick;

•    Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough;

•    WASH YOUR HANDS;

•    Call your doctor if you have severe respiratory symptoms and you have reason to believe you have been exposed to a case of the swine flu;

•    Have your personal/family preparedness plan in place and ready to activate;

•    Follow the news and stay aware of new swine flu developments.

For more details from our University Health Center, visit http://www.health.umd.edu/services/Swineflu.html

You may also contact the University Health Center at 301.314.8180.

You may also go the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more detailed information about the swine flu.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

Sacared Bodison, MD
Director
University Health Center

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