Suspected H1N1 flu case connected to the UO's child care facilities

EUGENE,
Ore. -- (May 1, 2009) -- On Friday, May 1, a suspected case of H1N1 influenza
was discovered in an elementary school-age child who attends the Moss Street
Children's Center on the University of Oregon campus. The child has been
home recovering from the illness since Monday evening, April 27, and has not
been attending the after-school program for the past four days. After
extensive consultation with local Lane County Public Health and Oregon State
Public Health, university officials announce that the Moss Street Children's
Center and two other childcare facilities (Vivian Olum Child Development Center
and Co-op Family Center at Spencer View) on campus will remain open and fully
operational at this time. If circumstances change over the weekend,
updates will be communicated by phone, email, websites and local media as
appropriate.

The
guidance of local and federal authorities is based on the current severity of
conditions of those with confirmed, probable or suspected cases of the
illness. At this time, the virus appears to be similar to the common
seasonal flu in duration and severity. University leaders are monitoring
the situation closely and the safety of child care families, students, faculty
and staff is always the top priority. We will follow the direction of the
health authorities, who are currently recommending that schools and
universities should evaluate instances on a case-by-case basis with regard to
severity of the situation and appropriate actions.

According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infected people may be able
to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or
more days after becoming sick, and more likely one to four days. The symptoms
of H1N1 influenza in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans
and may include: Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C), sore throat, cough,
stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, and fatigue. Some people have
reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 flu.

University
students, faculty or staff who experience symptoms should stay home and contact
health care providers. In addition, individuals who have pre-existing
medical conditions that may be at risk of complications related to influenza should
contact their health care providers.

Oregon
State Public Health issues the following recommendations:

  • Wash your hands often with
    soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand
    cleaners also are effective.
  • Cover your coughs and
    sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, not with your hand;
  • Stay home if you are sick;
  • Try to avoid contact with
    people who are ill; and
  • Practice other good health
    habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting
    sufficient rest and not smoking.

We are
providing updates via email and the UO Emergency Management website (http://em.uoregon.edu) as the situation
develops.

Contact: Julie Brown, director of media
relations, 541-743-1038, julbrown@uoregon.edu; Phil Weiler, senior director,
office of communications, 541-346-3873, pweiler@uoregon.edu

 

Links: UO Emergency Management, http://em.uoregon.edu

 

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