Now that the A/H1N1 virus has reached our community, with a mild case reported in the London-Middlesex area, The University of Western Ontario reminds faculty, staff and students there are ways to protect against the virus.
Although there are no reported cases with a connection to Western, university health officials encourage the community to remain diligent by practicing regular hand washing and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, as the virus commonly travels in droplets expelled by speaking, sneezing or coughing.
It is also prudent to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer with at least 70 per cent alcohol after an exchange, such as a money transaction, since the virus can live for some time on a surface.
Staff members at Student Health Services, such as Nurse Manager/Patient Service Co-ordinator Cynthia Gibney, wear face masks, goggles, gloves and gowns to protect against the spread of the A/H1N1 virus.
Effective immediately, The University of Western Ontario is prohibiting non-essential, university-related travel by faculty, staff and students to Mexico.
Gitta Kulczycki, Vice-President (Resources & Operations), says the travel advisory is a follow-up to the recommendations provided by the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Kulczycki says systems are in place to determine cases of essential travel and will review the precautions with the individuals.
“If it is non-essential, we really don’t want people travelling to Mexico at this stage on university-related matters,” she says.
Any exemptions must be approved by Shelagh Bantock, Clinical Director, Health Services, at 519-661-2111, ext. 84730 or e-mail sbantock@uwo.ca. Bantock is working in consultation with the following members of Western’s leadership team: Gerald Kidder, Associate Vice-President (Research); Linda Miller, Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies; and Jane O’Brien, Associate Vice-President (Human Resources).
There are no special concerns, nor special precautions related to faculty, staff or students returning from recent travel to Mexico or currently in Mexico as long as the travelers are feeling well.
Faculty, staff or students who are ill with flu-like symptoms, or who are ill with flu-like symptoms within seven days of returning from Mexico, or who have had contact with someone who is ill who recently returned from Mexico should stay home from the university until they have been checked out by a health care provider or have been symptom free for one day.
The ill individuals should seek advice from their health care provider only if their symptoms would normally prompt them to do so. There is no need for a visit to a health care provider if their symptoms are mild.
Kulczycki also recommends members of the university community check the travel reports and warnings from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada for any other travel advisories.
“There are a few steps each of us can take to reduce our risk of infection,” she says.
Hand sanitizer stations have been installed at building entrances across campus and Student Health Services Clinical Director Shelagh Bantock encourages everyone to use the dispensers every time you enter or leave a building. Hand sanitizers have also been added to bathrooms.
The university has been preparing for a flu pandemic and has systems in place to respond. Key individuals have been meeting regularly since the virus emerged to achieve an appropriate level of preparedness. Officials are also working closely with the Middlesex-London Health Unit to monitor the situation.
The number of confirmed cases in the province as of May 7 is 56, most of whom have a travel history to Mexico or have had contact with someone who has visited the country recently.
Members of the university community who have recently returned from Mexico and are experiencing symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, sore muscles, joint pains or diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their doctor. Those who are well can return to work or school.
For those who have contracted the virus, Bantock says efforts are ongoing to develop strategies to help those who are feeling ill and at home.
Student Health Services continues to screen patients for the virus. If anyone is displaying one or more of the symptoms, they will be given a mask and placed in isolation immediately.
The World Health Organization maintains its pandemic alert phase at level five, which indicates there is human-to-human spread of the virus in at least two countries.
An influenza pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of flu disease that occurs when a new type of influenza virus appears that people have not been exposed to before (or have not been exposed to in a long time). The effects can be serious because people do not have immunity to the new virus.
Although the A/H1N1 virus has not reached pandemic levels, the university encourages its community members to be prepared both in the home and at work or school.
“We all need to own the responsibility to take care of ourselves and each other with good hand hygiene,” says Bantock.
In the case of a pandemic outbreak, essential services you depend on may be disrupted, such as public transportation, and stores and schools may close.
What you can do to reduce your risks of infection:
Personal hygiene such as regular attention to washing hands is critical to blocking transmission, as is covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Also, frequently clean commonly used areas. The World Health Organization encourages individuals to maintain a distance of one metre from each other, and to avoid touching your mouth or nose. A healthy lifestyle such as getting adequate sleep, eating good foods and being physically active helps build up personal reserves toward off infection. Stock up on extra dry goods and supplies in case of a long stay at home during a pandemic outbreak. These items can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
For more information and updates on the A/H1N1 virus, visit https://communications.uwo.ca/influenza-microsite/.
If you notice an area on campus that is in need of a hand sanitizer station, contact Physical Plant at 519-661-3304 ext. 83304.