The University of Wyoming on Wednesday received confirmation that a student living in one of the UW residence halls tested positive for the H1N1 (swine) flu virus. The UW Student Health Service reports the student has recovered.
UW is closely monitoring the swine flu situation and will launch the steps outlined in its pandemic plan as necessary, says Nancy Fox, director of Environmental Health and Safety at UW who heads a committee that has been preparing and planning for a possible pandemic for some time. She says that in April UW began implementing aspects of its pandemic plan in response to the H1N1 situation.
Since then, the campus has been under its level two (2) status: "Pandemic Alert" and the committee has taken several steps to inform the campus of ways to slow down the spread of the virus, including placing hand sanitizers and informational posters outlining recommended hygiene procedures at many campus locations. Custodial staff implemented more rigid cleaning practices.
Officials have identified space for ill students to move temporarily so they may isolate themselves from their roommates. They have also identified space for roommates of ill students to move temporarily.
UW is emphasizing the public health messages of frequent hand washing, cough and sneeze control into tissue or sleeve, voluntary self isolation of those with flu symptoms, and avoiding close contact with sick people, Fox says.
A designated H1N1 flu Web site that can be linked off the UW home page (www.uwyo.edu/H1N1) has been updated frequently, and key personnel participated in a table top exercise to review unit responses and prepare for various outbreak scenarios.
Posted on Thursday, September 17, 2009