Updates

• September
• May
• April

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Update to the Camosun College Community

 

Camosun College is continuing to monitor the potential and actual impacts of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) situation on our community.

In April when the first reported human cases of H1N1 were being reported, Camosun formed a Pandemic Response Team to monitor the situation, develop a response plan and provide updates to the college community.

This team continues to meet and further develop the response plan as the situation unfolds, including a communication plan. The team is being guided by and is working closely with Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and other relevant agencies in developing the appropriate responses.

• What is H1N1 (Human Swine Flu)?
• What are the symptoms?
• How is H1N1 flu virus spread?
• What should I do if I’ve been in contact with someone who has H1N1 flu virus?
• What should I do if I think I am sick with H1N1?
• How is H1N1 treated?
  
• What should I do if a colleague or student has influenza-like illness?
• Need I advise other employees or students of a possible H1N1 exposure in the classroom or workplace?
• What is the college doing to prepare for a pandemic outbreak?
• What are the responsibilities of all staff, faculty and students?
• What should I do if I am travelling internationally?
• Where can I get more information?

General Information Q&A

What is H1N1 (Human Swine Flu)?

H1N1 flu virus is a strain of the influenza virus that usually affects pigs, but which can also affect humans. It is a respiratory illness causing symptoms similar to those of the regular seasonal flu. H1N1 flu virus has been reported around the world and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic influenza virus. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the British Columbia Ministry of Health Services and its health authorities, including the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), continue to monitor and respond to the spread of the virus. H1N1 flu cases identified in BC continue to be associated with relatively mild symptoms typical of usual flu.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the common flu and can include high fever, a cough, headache, general aches, fatigue, eye pain, shortness of breath and lack of appetite. Some people have also reported a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

How is H1N1 flu virus spread?

H1N1 flu virus is mainly spread person-to-person through coughing or sneezing by people infected with the H1N1 flu virus. People may also become infected by touching something with the H1N1 flu virus on it, such as counters or doorknobs, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

• How can I reduce the risk of contracting H1N1 flu virus or spreading the virus to others?
• Wash your hands regularly with warm water and regular soap, especially after you cough or sneeze. When you can’t wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw the tissue in the trash right after you use it, and wash or sanitize your hands right away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough and sneeze into your upper arm or sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs can spread that way.
• If you become sick, stay home and limit contact with others

What should I do if I’ve been in contact with someone who has H1N1 flu virus?

If you are told you have been in contact with someone who has H1N1 flu, it is important to monitor yourself for symptoms. If you are not feeling sick, you do not need to stay home from work or school, see a doctor or take preventative medicine. Individuals can call HealthLink BC 8-1-1 or visit www.healthlinkbc.ca 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if they have questions or concerns.

What should I do if I think I am sick with H1N1?

You should self-isolate, which means staying home and limiting contact with others, including avoiding travel and not going to work or school, for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (as measured without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Treat mild symptoms as you normally would with rest and fluids. This will decrease the chance of spreading the virus to other people. Call HealthlinkBC 8-1-1 or visit www.healthlinkbc.ca if you feel sick.

It is expected that most people will recover from H1N1 flu without needing medical care. In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• sudden dizziness
• confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• flu-like symptoms improve but return with fever and worse cough

How is H1N1 treated?

Tamiflu, the brand name for oseltamivir, is an antiviral medication that works by inhibiting an enzyme that the flu virus needs in order to spread through your body. Medical experts caution against widespread use of this medication as a number of cases of oseltamivir resistance have been seen within Canada and other countries, making it imperative that doctors not over-prescribe.

If you have received a prescription for Tamiflu from your physician as part of your ‘flu plan’, British Columbia’s Centre for Disease Control asks that patients do not fill the prescription unless they are experiencing moderate to severe influenza-like symptoms, OR are experiencing mild symptoms but have a high risk condition. The prescription can be filled without cost to those who meet the above criteria. Tamiflu is intended for treatment and not prevention and is not to be dispensed to asymptomatic patients and/or patients planning to travel. If Camosun employees who will be travelling internationally want to take a supply of Tamiflu with them, they should visit their doctor prior to leaving to get a prescription.

What should I do if a colleague or student has influenza-like illness?

If the individual’s symptoms are consistent with H1N1, advise them to follow the recommendations listed above.

Need I advise other employees or students of a possible H1N1 exposure in the classroom or workplace?

No. Advise only department/School administration, Human Resources and/or direct managers/supervisors in the situation. The need for wider notification will be assessed by the College in conjunction with VIHA.

What is the college doing to prepare for a pandemic outbreak?

Camosun College has been preparing to respond to H1N1 and the potential for a pandemic outbreak since human incidence of the disease first appeared in April 2009. The Pandemic Response Team is working to determine the impact a pandemic might have on the Camosun College community and develop plans accordingly, including:

• reviewing and revising our existing plans
• implementing infection prevention and control measures based on current recommendations by VIHA such as providing and installing signs for recommended hand-washing techniques in our washrooms and other public areas, increasing the number of and installing hand-sanitizing stations at key public areas, and increasing levels of cleaning, maintenance and monitoring of supplies in washrooms and public spaces.
  
  The Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend that members of the general public wear surgical masks to protect against contracting H1N1 flu virus. Evidence shows that this is not effective in preventing transmission of influenza in the general public. People often use masks incorrectly, or contaminate themselves when putting masks on and taking them off, which could actually increase the risk of infection, according to the PHAC H1N1 website.
• preparing for potentially high levels of absenteeism
• supporting business and program continuity planning
• working to arrange flu clinics for the fall
• communicating to the Camosun community on H1N1-related issues through links from camosun.ca

What are the responsibilities of all staff, faculty and students?

It is important to act responsibly and stay home if you are sick with flu-like symptoms to ensure you do not risk infecting colleagues, students and other visitors to campus. Please stay home and call your doctor if symptoms persist.

All members of the Camosun College community are asked to:

• follow recommendations provided by VIHA and the college to help stop the spread of infection.
• monitor camosun.ca/h1n1 for the latest information on H1N1 at Camosun
• stay at home if you are sick. Remain at home until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever (100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C) without the use of fever-reducing medication
• advise your manager, supervisor, department administration or instructor if you are staying home due to a possible H1N1 illness. Information relating to any individual’s medical status will remain confidential and kept to a need-to-know basis.
• have a personal preparedness plan should you or a family member become ill.

Please note that the college is not requiring a medical certificate for H1N1 illness absences except under compelling circumstances.

What is my responsibility as a:

Manager/Administrator

May I send a staff member home if they are exhibiting flu-like symptoms?

Yes, you may ask a staff member to go home if they are exhibiting flu-like symptoms and are potentially risking the health of others. Please exercise judgment when making that call.

• Assist the college by promoting infection control practices recommended by the college to your staff
• Support your staff and provide accommodation to those who are absent due to illness or acting as a caregiver for an ill family member
• Monitor, track and report all H1N1-related absenteeism to Human Resources
• Develop or review your unit’s business continuity plans by identifying critical functions, resources and determining minimum staffing levels to maintain operations. A template is being developed to assist with this effort and these plans, along with H1N1 updates, will form part of our regular Senior Management Team meeting agendas.
• Consider training additional staff to perform key functions should there be high absenteeism in your unit

Faculty member

May I send a student home if he or she is exhibiting flu-like symptoms?

Yes. Please take the student aside and explain that you are concerned that they are sick and risking spreading the virus to others. We will expect all students to leave the College when asked to do so. If a student who is visibly sick insists on remaining, please call the College Safety Officer at 370-4043 for assistance in encouraging the student to take the proper precautions. The College will try to minimize the effect of time lost due to illness.

• Support students who require special accommodation due to H1N1 illness, including options for completing course requirements
• Provide information to students on where they can obtain resources and support
• Advise your School/Centre’s administration of any H1N1-related absenteeism

Staff member

• Remain flexible in your job function and responsibilities
• Advise your supervisor if you are experiencing, or are caring for someone with, H1N1

Student

• Advise your instructor if you are ill and suspect you may have H1N1
• Remain away from class and the college until you are well enough to return (at least 24 hours after your fever has disappeared)

What should I do if I am travelling internationally?

The Government of Canada provides two very informative sites for international travelers, Travel Reports and Warnings, at http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp, provides detailed country-specific information, including health related warnings. The FightFlu.ca website also provides travel information at http://www.fightflu.ca/travel-voyage-eng.html, including a link to country specific travel health warnings from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Camosun College uses the Government of Canada travel warnings to guide decisions regarding employee travel on college business. In general, a travel advisory level 3 ‘avoid all non-essential travel’ will result in the College cancelling travel plans.

As a general precaution, College employees traveling on college business during the H1N1 pandemic will be provided with hand sanitizer, masks and gloves.

Where can I get more information

Please continue to monitor camosun.ca for the latest information on the H1N1 flu situation.

The following web resources also contain information related to the H1N1 flu virus:

• Public Health Agency of Canada at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/index-eng.php
• Vancouver Island Health Authority at http://www.viha.ca/h1n1/
• Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs (for travel advisories) at http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp

Pandemic Response Team

Denis Powers, Chair
Kara Larkin, HR
Marian Miszkiel, Physical Resources
Pervez Ditta, College Safety
Susan Haddon, College & Community Relations
Nicole Greengoe, Student Services
Sybil Harrison, Library
Ian McLeod, Information Technology Services
Deborah Huelscher, Finance
Barbara Herringer, Health & Human Services
Dawn Sutherland, Camosun College International

Media inquires:

Susan Haddon
Director, College & Community Relations
Camosun College
4461 Interurban Road
Victoria, BC V9E 2C1
250–370–4231
250–588–9298 (cell)
email: haddon@camosun.bc.ca