Take steps to protect yourself, your workplace from flu as faculty, staff and students return to campus We have previously put out information regarding the H1N1 Flu and, as we have said, we continue to monitor the situation and to post related information on the Health/Wellness Blog (linked from the www.und.edu home page). Since this is the time of year when faculty, staff and students are returning to campus (in many cases after traveling), it is important to remind the UND community to follow basic disease prevention practices, as well as remind employees about what they can do to reduce the spread of H1N1 Flu in the workplace. Printable "Swine Flu and You" Flyer Explains How To Protect Yourself The University of North Dakota is providing a printable “Swine Flu and You” flyer about how to protect yourself against pandemic flu. The 8.5 x 11-inch flyer, which can also be printed in black and white, can be found at http://www.und.edu/pandemicFlu.pdf You can also find in on the Health/Wellness Blog on the main UND web page (www.und.edu). UND offices are encouraged to print out a flyer for internal posting as well as any external bulletin boards. Follow Disease Prevention Practices A reminder to follow basic disease preventions, which include: • Ill students, faculty and staff should stay home while ill • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue away • Wash hands or use a hand sanitizer after using a tissue • Wash hands frequently during the day • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth • Avoid close contact with people who are ill or appear ill What Can Employees Do to Reduce the Spread of H1N1 Flu in the Workplace? From the CDC web site: * Stay home if you are sick. If you have symptoms of influenza-like illness, stay home for 7 days after symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Call first before seeking care to determine the appropriate course of action. Students may call Student Health Services at 777-4500. UND employees may contact their health care providers. Following these recommendations will help keep you from infecting others and spreading the virus. * Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with pandemic H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, notify their supervisor and stay home if they become ill. Employees who have an underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should call their health care provider for advice, because they might need to receive influenza antiviral drugs to prevent illness. * Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. * Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water are not available. * Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way. * Avoid close contact with sick people. If an employee suspects that they have been exposed to a sick person with pandemic H1N1 influenza, he or she may continue to go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day and should notify their supervisor and stay home if they become ill. Employees are also encouraged to help maintain a healthy work environment by periodically wiping down with a disinfectant or disinfectant wipes any public surfaces — counters, telephones, etc. – which regularly come in contact with the general public. -- Peter Johnson, Executive Associate Vice President for University Relations, 777-4317, peterjohnson@mail.und.nodak.edu