While its low mortality rate is very good news, the absenteeism among faculty and students may be beyond anything we have experienced. The Center for Disease Control says that we can expect up to 30 percent absenteeism among students and staff over a 4-6 week wave of outbreaks. The CDC is expecting a 2 week peak, which is most likely to occur within the traditional flu season. Information on CDC recommendations for higher education can be found at www.flu.gov. Brochures on the H1N1 virus are also available from Dell Rae Moellenberg in the Office of Public Relations (491-6009).

 

While university-aged students are listed as a priority group for the H1N1 vaccine (scheduled to be available in October), initially there may be prioritization within this group due to a limited quantity of vaccine. Priority groups within student-aged populations include students with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women. Faculty and staff will not be a priority group, unless they have other health risks as noted above. The seasonal flu vaccine does not cover the H1N1 flu, but it is still important to get a seasonal vaccine to avoid seasonal flu. Seasonal flu vaccines are available at the CSU Health Network in Hartshorn ($20 for students; $25 for employees).

 

The CSU Health Network, Residence Life, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs have developed a comprehensive plan to provide guidance for students on best practices to minimize the chances of infection and manage the illness, including the importance of having a plan with their families about what they'll do if they become ill. To minimize the spread of the flu, the most important messages to deliver to students, and for you to keep in mind for ill faculty and staff as well, are:

 

     - stay home if you are sick (the CDC is recommending waiting 24 hours after the fever breaks before returning)

     - cover your cough

     - avoid touching your face

     - wash your hands often

 

The academic challenge for faculty and departments will be managing an unprecedented number of student and faculty absences. Since we know that the magnitude of possible student cases will surpass the Health Network's ability to see students simply for the purpose of documenting medical absences (and because having ill students come to the Center simply for documentation might spread the flu faster), one of the highest priority tasks will be creating a university system for recording and communicating authorized absences. We are also discussing how other all-university academic practices and rules might best be adjusted.

 

Since there are already reported cases in Colorado, we are acutely aware of the importance in providing guidance on these all-University rules as soon as possible. While those discussions are underway, it important that faculty and departments review:

 

1. How they intend to manage faculty absences.

2. How faculty are planning to make it possible for students who are ill to keep up on their own while they are out and then catch-up on any course material or assignments they missed when they return.

 

The University's pandemic plan and other useful safety information can be found at www.safety.colostate.edu.