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Current Campus Pandemic Level: Level 1
Last updated: January 26, 2010
Prevention:
1. One of the best ways to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated against the flu.
2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
3. Cover your nose and mouth with your arm when sneezing.
4. Stay away from classes/work and limit interactions with other people, except to seek medical care, for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever.
Three Levels of Flu Response:
The three levels of response to a pandemic event were established at The King’s in response to endemic viruses in the greater community of Edmonton or Alberta. Specific to H1N1, Alberta Health Services recognizes that a heightened flu season is expected and has advised post secondary institutions in Alberta to have a response plan. The following further explain the three levels of response adopted by The King’s University College in response to a pandemic event.
Level 1
During Level 1 response, the University College is experiencing a normal or non-active flu season along with the community at large. Ill members of the University College community should follow standard sick leave policy.
Level 2
During Level 2 response, the University College is preparing for a virus to potentially begin infecting members of the community in greater numbers than during a standard flu season. In order to proactively respond, the University College will adopt a Level 2 preparedness further encouraging any ill members of the community to self-isolate until their symptoms have subsided. Specific to H1N1, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has indicated that Albertans experiencing flu-like symptoms will be discouraged from seeking medical assistance unless necessary through hospital emergency services.
AHS has also indicated that medical notes cannot be expected by employers and institutions. For this reason, The King’s has moved to Level 2 as of October 5, 2009 in response to any potential community impact associated with H1N1. Ill members of the community should self isolate until symptoms have subsided, and report their illness to their immediate supervisor and/or the Pandemic Coordinator.
Level 3
During Level 3 response, the University College is experiencing heightened impact from a pandemic event that may warrant a temporary closure. During such an event The Pandemic Coordinator, under advisement from AHS and Health Canada, would advise the University College President of the impact on the community from the pandemic event and recommend possible action toward class suspension.
If flu starts to cause severe disease in a significantly larger proportion of the population, the President of King’s University College will suspend classes in order to decrease the spread of flu. This decision will be communicated to the community by the Marketing Department. The length of time classes could be suspended will vary depending on the goal of class suspension as well as the severity and extent of illness.
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC PLAN
Background
Global outbreaks of influenza or pandemics are known to occur every 30 or 40 years. In the previous century, the world was affected by three influenza pandemics: the Spanish (1918), Asian (1957) and Hong Kong (1968). The Spanish Pandemic alone killed an estimated 20 million people world-wide. Health officials are predicting that it is a matter of time when another influenza pandemic will affect countries throughout the world. In preparation, both the Federal and Provincial Governments have created Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plans.
In the event of an Influenza Pandemic, the King’s University College will follow the direction of Alberta Health Services.
In developing the King’s University College Influenza Pandemic Plan, various assumptions were made. It is impossible to predict the severity of the next pandemic and its overall impact on the University. This Plan does assume the worst case scenario. This scenario involves the closure of The King’s University College.
Emergency Response Plan
The World Health Organization (WHO) uses a chart with six phases as a system of informing the world of the seriousness of a pandemic threat. Each phase launches a series of actions in preparation for a pandemic. King’s will use three levels of response in the event of a flu outbreak.
Level 1 Response (Standard Flu Season Outbreak):
King’s will emphasize the importance of the basic foundations of flu prevention through the use of a campaign.
• Flu shots, offered by Public Health, will be strongly encouraged for staff/students
• Everyone must stay at home when sick
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water
• Cover your nose and mouth with your arm when coughing or sneezing
• Students will also be encouraged to frequently clean their residence – including frequently touched areas
King’s will implement a routine cleaning schedule which will be put in place for frequent cleaning of surfaces commonly touched by everyone (i.e. doorknobs, elevator buttons, bathrooms, tables, computers, etc.). Also, King’s will place hand cleaning sanitizers throughout the campus.
Supervisors, and faculty deans are encouraged to send community members home who are visibly ill. All supervisors and deans should report instances of flu-like illness to the Pandemic Coordinator. This information will be recorded and tracked by the coordinator. During an identified high-risk flu season, the coordinator is responsible for informing the President twice weekly on known cases of flu-like illness within the community. The Pandemic Coordinator, in consultation with The President will escalate the level of response as required. This decision will be communicated to the community by the Marketing department.
Level 2 & 3 Response (Extended Flu Outbreak within Campus Community):
During a Level 2 and 3 response, King’s will introduce the following procedures:
• The Pandemic Coordinator will work with the Marketing Department to establish means of communicating pandemic response procedures to the campus. Mechanisms such as a hotline, and website will be established to allow members of the community to self-report illness. This information will be collected and maintained by the Pandemic Coordinator.
• A variety of communication methods such as e-mail, posters, flyers will be utilized to discourage ill persons from visiting campus. All individuals, faculty, staff, students, or visitors with flu-like illness shall be prohibited from visiting the campus or attending King’s events such as athletic events until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours.
• Faculty and students with flu-like illness should stay away from classes and limit face-to-face interactions with other people, except to seek medical care, for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
• Faculty and staff will not require a Doctor’s notes to stay home when they are ill or to care for an ill family member, as Doctor’s offices may be very busy and may not be able to provide such documentation in a timely manner. Individuals are encouraged to contact Alberta Health Services hotlines for reporting purposes.
• A residential student with flu-like illness should stay in their residence to prevent infecting others. The student will be encouraged to report illness through the Pandemic Coordinator’s Office. The Pandemic Coordinator will communicate with the Residence Director who will arrange for the student to receive meals. Residence Assistants will make daily contact with those who are in self-isolation by e-mail, text messaging, or phone calls.
• Community members with flu-like illness are to promptly seek medical attention if they have a medical condition that puts them at increased risk of severe illness from flu, are concerned about their illness, or develop severe symptoms such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing.
