H1N1 (swine) flu

Concordia officials are monitoring the recent outbreak of H1N1 (swine) influenza that has sickened people in North America and elsewhere.

At this time, there are multiple confirmed H1N1 cases on the Seward campus, and students should review advice for preventing and/or dealing with the illness if they develop symptoms.

As in all situations of this nature, Concordia will work with health officials to share information and respond in an appropriate and coordinated manner. We will provide further updates as necessary.

Other Concordia resources

• www.cune.edu/healthcenter

Concordia’s actions

Concordia notified faculty, staff and students by e-mail on Oct.1, 2009, of the H1N1 (swine) flu virus and precautions to take. The university's Critical Incident Management Team is actively monitoring the situation and is meeting weekly to review other appropriate actions and contingency plans.

The maintenance department has added cleaning procedures and the health center, counseling office and the student life offices are closely monitoring student health.

Outlook: The university administration continues to actively monitor this situation and is examining plans for further steps in case of greater risk to students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus.

Precautions for all members of the Concordia community

These are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy as influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people:

• 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. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick

• The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
  
  
• Persons who experience flu-like symptoms (fever with either cough or sore throat) and wish to seek medical care should contact their health care provider to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at Concordia's health center or other clinic, physician’s office, or hospital. Persons who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or are believed to be severely ill should seek immediate medical attention.
  
  
• Students, if you are staying home due to illness, e-mail your professor to notify him/her of your absence and to make arrangements for your class assignments.
  
  
• Faculty and staff, if you are staying home due to illness, call or e-mail your supervisor.
  
  
• If you know of other people displaying these symptoms who refuse to seek a medical diagnosis, please inform a member of Concordia's student life office or other administrative staff.

Additional H1N1 information

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a fact sheet on swine flu (see also: CDC's main page for H1N1 (swine) flu.)
  
  
• CNN has a Swine flu: Your questions answered page that covers some common questions about the H1N1 flu virus.
  
  
• World Health Organization information.
  
  
• U.S. Health and Human Services - PandemicFlu.gov.
  
  
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
  
  
• Information from the local health department for Seward, Four Corners Health Department.

CUNE Alert

CUNE Alert, Concordia's system for making emergency announcements by text message, phone message or e-mail message may be used to communicate information about the H1N1 flu. CUNE alert is available to students, faculty and staff. For more information about CUNE Alert, including how to sign up, please visit the CUNE Alert page.