Policy, Influenza Virus Preparation and Response

Policy Statement, Influenza Virus Preparation and Response

Dear Members of the Mount Community,

Long before our students began their return to campus this week the Mount’s faculty, staff, and administrators were working diligently to prepare for the new academic year.  Much of that preparation has involved continuing to make sure the Mount’s campuses at Emmitsburg and Frederick are as safe and secure as possible.  The broad goal of that effort is to ensure that we are maintaining an environment where teaching and learning are not only encouraged but are enhanced.

In addition to the preparation for the routine matters of concern and because of the advance of the H1N1 influenza virus (swine flu) during the spring of 2009, I ordered a review the University’s policies related to infectious diseases, to include seasonal influenza and H1N1.  That review showed that we are prepared to respond to cases of influenza identified on our campus.  The University’s Director of Health Services, Dr. Bonnie Portier, D.O., is communicating regularly with the Frederick County and State of Maryland Health Departments to insure that we have the timeliest information available on the status of the H1N1 and seasonal viruses.

It is important to remember that every year colleges and universities across the country, including the Mount, routinely deal a rise in the number of cases of seasonal influenza among students and employees from late autumn through the winter months.  Nevertheless, as we approach the coming influenza season all indications point to a higher than average number of cases of all types of influenza.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that the H1N1 virus continues to pose a greater risk to specific segments of the population.   Among those higher risk groups are people between the age of 18 months and 24 years of age, a group that includes a significant portion of our student population.  Mount St. Mary’s University is taking proactive steps to prepare for likely cases of the H1N1 virus on our campus.  Those steps will attempt to protect the broad University community while considering the condition and circumstances of the student or employee suffering the symptoms of influenza.

Strategies for Preventing Infection by Influenza Viruses

The CDC recommends specific strategies that people can employ to lessen to possibility of the transmission of any influenza virus. We have already begun sharing this information with our returning students and staff and will continue to do so throughout the coming year.  We would also ask that you discuss these strategies with your sons or daughters and encourage them to use them to stay healthy.  The CDC’s recommendations are:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• If you don’t have a tissue available you should cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow rather than your hand
• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer on a frequent basis (the University is obtaining and will place alcohol-based hand sanitizer at locations across campus)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Clean common, hard surfaces frequently to lessen the chances of contracting or spreading viruses.

In addition to these steps, vaccination has been shown to be one of the most important precautions any of us can take to reduce the likelihood that we will contract influenza.  The Mount’s Director of Health Services points out that because the H1N1 vaccine is new for it to be effective it needs to be given in two doses separated by about a month.  The first H1N1 vaccines should be available in late September or early October 2009.  Our Director of Health Services further indicates that it is advisable for there be about four weeks between the seasonal influenza inoculation and the first H1N1 dose inoculation.  As a result, the regular seasonal influenza inoculation will begin as soon as possible so that the first H1N1 vaccine doses can be given sometime in October and the second H1N1 vaccine doses can be given in November.  One consequence of giving the regular seasonal influenza inoculations in September is that because the seasonal influenza vaccine is only effective for about four months it will be necessary to give a second seasonal influenza inoculation sometime in January 2010.  Consequently, to be protected from both the seasonal and H1N1 influenza strains it will be necessary to receive four separate doses of vaccine (two seasonal & two H1N1).

The probable schedule of inoculations for seasonal influenza and H1N1 will therefore be as follows:

Early September 2009       First Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Dose

October 2009                      First H1N1 Vaccine Dose

November 2009                  Second H1N1 Vaccine Dose

January/February 2010     Second Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Dose             

Policy for Students or Employees with Symptoms of Influenza

Mount St. Mary’s University has been blessed with a record number of new students arriving this fall.  Consequently our residence halls are almost full to capacity.  As a primarily residential institution it will normally be impossible for the University’s students to self-quarantine themselves in a University residence hall in the event of an influenza outbreak.  As a result, under most circumstances students or employees with symptoms of influenza will be sent home for five calendar days (the length of time of infectiousness for a person infected with the influenza virus).  Students and employees who are shown to be fever free for a period of twenty-four hours without fever reducing medication may be permitted to return to the University in less than five days if they present the Wellness Center (students) or the Human Resources Department (employees) with documentation from their personal physician that they have been cleared to return to class or work.

Students with Special Circumstances

There is an understanding that there may be students who display symptoms of influenza but whose homes are sufficiently distant from the Mount to make traveling to their home impractical.  The Mount is committed to offering assistance to our students in securing suitable assistance and accommodations so that they may be quarantined during the period when they are displaying the symptoms of influenza.  In short, the Mount will do whatever we can to ensure that all of our students are cared for while protecting the broader University community.

Precautions during Periods of Increased Incidence of Influenza on Campus

In the event the incidences of influenza on campus rise to an unusually high levels additional actions may be implemented to facilitate continued operation of the institution while protecting uninfected staff and students.  Among those actions will be:

• Making surgical-type masks and latex gloves available
• Adapting academic and employee attendance policies
• Adapting class and work schedules
• Reducing or eliminating large public gatherings on campus
• Providing regular information briefings to the Mount community, including students, parents, employees, and members of the surrounding community

The Bottom-Line

I along with the University’s Board of Trustees, administrators, and faculty are committed to the protecting our students and employees from all threats including the threat imposed by influenza.  We have for many years successfully prepared for and dealt with seasonal influenza outbreaks affecting our campus.  We continue to work with county, state, and national agencies and institutions to be prepared in the event of a serious influenza outbreak affecting the Mount and our community.  If and when it becomes necessary we will respond to facilitate the continued effective operation of the Mount while maintaining our commitment to the health and safety of our students and employees.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Thomas H. Powell
President

16300 Old Emmitsburg Road
Emmitsburg, Maryland  21727
(301) 447-5600

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