University officials have learned of several presumed cases of the H1N1 flu virus since the start of the fall semester, and are aware that other faculty, staff and students may become ill with either seasonal flu and/or the H1N1 flu this season.

During the flu season, WVU will be following national guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other local and state guidelines that may be forthcoming from the Monongalia County Health Department or the state Department of Public Health.

The most important action employees can take to help control the spread of the flu is to stay home if you get sick. If you are ill with influenza like symptoms, the CDC recommends that individuals stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone—except to get medical care or for other necessities. A fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. Be aware that those infected with seasonal and H1N1 flu may be able to infect others from one day before getting sick to 5-7 days after.

Here are a few simple steps recommended by the CDC that employees can follow to prevent the spread of influenza and increase the chances of staying healthy:

1. Get vaccinated for seasonal and H1N1 influenza (consult with a doctor to see when the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu vaccines will be available)
2. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol based sanitizer. Hand sanitizer dispensers are already in place or being placed in most WVU buildings.
3. Cover your cough with a tissue and discard. Coughing into your elbow is recommended if a tissue is not available.
4. Stay at least six feet away from anyone who is ill.
5. Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
6. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

How to recognize influenza (symptoms are similar for both the seasonal and the H1N1 types of flu):

1. A fever of 100.4˚F or higher
2. Sudden onset of illness and body aches
3. Congestion, cough, sore throat

The WVU Division of Human Resources (HR) is advising employees who become ill to follow the applicable departmental “call off” procedure in notifying their supervisor and reporting absences.

Although leave-eligible employees will have to take sick leave for work time missed, if one does not have enough accumulated sick leave to cover an absence, employees are asked to have their supervisor contact the Employee Relations Unit at 293-5700 ext. 5 to obtain further direction.

Given the potential severity of this flu outbreak, HR urges managers and supervisors to be flexible with employees in the event employees or their family members become ill and/or exposed to the flu virus. In the event future circumstances require temporary policy changes, employees will be notified of those changes.

Human Resources has also created a call-in line at 304-293-H1N1 (4161) to answer employee questions or refer employees to the appropriate University resources to obtain answers to questions regarding the influenza outbreak.
Employees are encouraged to reference the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm and/or the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) http://www.wvdhhr.org/H1N1SwineFluDocs.pdf for important information on the H1N1 virus.

Managers and supervisors are strongly encouraged to post this notice in areas where employees do not have access to E-News and to discuss this information with employees in staff meetings. It is also recommended that managers and supervisors print the brochure provided by the DHHR at the web address provided above and distribute it to staff members who do not have access to a computer.