The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website titled “Swine flu and You”, which contains excellent information regarding the origins, symptoms, treatment and prevention of this contagious condition.
The CDC
has also updated its guidelines on steps communities and schools should take to contain transmission of swine flu when confirmed or suspected cases of the disease are present. These include instructions on school dismissals, closure of child care faculties and cancellation of large school-related gatherings. CDC officials stress that past pandemic experience proves that taking immediate action as soon as cases are detected is key to containing transmission of the virus.
The following CDC web site contains the updated CDC guidance as well as general information on swine flu and advice on pandemic planning:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/mitigation.htm
The Department of Education (DoE) web site also contains school-related planning information:
http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/04/public-health-officials-offer-swine-flu-guidance-to-schools/
In a national conference call yesterday officials from both agencies explained that the present recommendations are based on the relatively low number of cases in the US to date and the fact that these are less severe than cases identified in Mexico. As these circumstances are subject to change, campus officials should monitor the CDC and DoE web sites and stay in touch with state and local health departments for updated inform.
As the swine flu outbreak continues to evolve, staff at the HS/HSL are monitoring, along with our colleagues at the National Library of Medicine, emerging developments and information. We have created a web page with the most authoritative resources on swine flu:
http://www.hshsl.umaryland.edu/resources/sitesbysub/Swineflu.html
http://www.mema.state.md.us/MEMA/content_page.jsp?TOPICID=swineflu