PANDEMIC INFLUENZA CENTER

images of proper hand washing and sneezing to prevent spread of viruses

What's New?

Seasonal Flu Updates

Seasonal flu shots available on all four campuses. Read more...

H1N1 Flu Updates

Portion of H1N1 vaccine order comes in; ASU to distribute vaccines to high-risk groups

Arizona State University has received part of its vaccine order for the H1N1 virus (also known as swine flu). Following state and federal guidelines, ASU is making vaccines available to those in the highest risk groups first. Read more...

New sick leave guidelines adopted during pan flu epidemic

ASU employees who are concerned about H1N1 flu and how to handle absences may be able to take advantage of a new policy adopted by the Office of Human Resources.

The Office of Human Resources has redefined its sick pay policy to reflect challenges to the university’s workforce during a pandemic. The World Health Organization declared a stage six pandemic earlier this year due to a worldwide spread of the H1N1 flu virus. Read more...

In light of recent developments on the state and national level, Arizona State University officials are urging all members of the ASU community to redouble their efforts to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus.

The Centers for Disease Control have recently reported a steep increase in visits to doctors for influenza-like illness across the country and there have been delays in getting H1N1 vaccine to the states and counties.

President Barack Obama declared on Oct. 23, that the rapid spread of the H1N1 flu throughout the nation necessitated a declaration of a national emergency in order to relax federal rules allowing hospitals and health-care providers to deal with the number of sick people.

The national emergency declaration was not implemented because of increased severity of the disease, but because of the widespread number of cases in 46 states, including Arizona., so Arizona State University continues to ask students and staff to protect themselves and their community by:

  1. Wash hands before eating, touching your mouth, eyes or nose. Using an alcohol-based hand cleanser is the most efficient way to stop transmission of the flu.
  2. If you have to cough or sneeze, cough into your sleeve rather than your hands or tissue.
  3. Visit this web site often for updates on availability of the H1N1 vaccine.
  4. Before you are sick, pick up a cold/flu pack or a two-week supply of medicines to treat cold and flu symptoms. Kits are available at any health center and the C-stores on campus.
  5. If you are mild to moderately sick with flu-like symptoms, stay at home or isolate yourself in the residence halls. Do not go to work or attend classes. The university has arranged to have meals delivered to residence hall rooms for students who are sick. Students can contact professors by email to let them know they are sick and arrange to complete classwork. See Dr. Capaldi’s Flu Guidelines for Students.
  6. If you’re sick with flu-like symptoms and are pregnant, have lung, heart, or immune system problems or if you are more than moderately ill, come to one of the ASU health centers for care. If you are having difficulty breathing with flu-like symptoms, call 911 or go to an emergency room for treatment.

CDC update on H1N1 flu read more...

CDC information about H1N1 flu vaccine safety read more...

FDA approves H1N1 vaccines. Read more...

CDC 2009 H1N1 flu: International situation update. Discusses worldwide spread of the H1N1 virus.

Dr. Elizabeth Capaldi, Executive Vice President and Provost, sent out guidelines for faculty and students and Morgan R. Olsen, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and CFO, sent out guidelines for staff related to the H1N1 flu virus for fall 2009.

10 September 2009 -- Updated CDC Guidance on the use of antivirals for flu patients. Read more...

10 September 2009 -- Arizona Republic article on H1N1 strain of Swine flu a danger for those with other ills.

CDC: Guidance for Institutions of Higher Learning. Recommendations for the 2009-10 academic year.

CDC: Information about vaccinations for specific groups. People with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease link for information.

CDC: U.S. situation update. A "FluView" map tracks weekly state-by-state influenza estimates.

CDC: Information about what’s new with H1N1. Updates to the CDC web site about H1N1.

World Health Organization article on pandemic vaccine safety. Article discusses regulatory procedures and vaccine approval processes.

CDC: College-age students among age groups who should receive Novel H1N1 vaccine. Read the current recommendations on who should receive the H1N1 vaccine.

8 July 2009 -- Arizona Republic article on H1N1 strain indicating likely spread as school year begins.

Researchers meet at ASU to discuss swine flu strategies

26 June 2009 -- North American researchers met at ASU to put 21st century science and technology to the test. June 24 to June 28, 2009 researchers met at ASU to discuss swine flu strategies to read more...

Current information about the H1NI flu virus is available from the World Health Organization.

H1N1 flu (also known as swine flu) information

28 April 2009 -- Community Information and Referral has opened a 24-hour swine flu hotline at 602.263.8856 and 1.800.352.3792.

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 15

15 May 2009 -- The Ministry of Health of Egypt has reported a new confirmed human case of avian influenza. The case is a 5-year old female from Tama District, Sohag Governorate. Her symptoms began on 7 May and she was admitted in Sohag Fever Hospital on 9 May where she received oseltamivir. She is in a stable condition.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories on 10 May 2009.

Investigations into the source of infection indicate close contact with dead and sick poultry.

The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced the deaths of previously confirmed cases of H5N1 as follows:

Of the 69 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 26 have been fatal.

Avian influenza situation in Vietnam update
11 Feb. 2009

The Ministry of Health in Vietnam has reported a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case has been confirmed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

The case is a 23-year old woman from Dam Ha district, Quang Ninh province. She developed symptoms on Jan. 28, 2009 and was hospitalized on Jan. 31, 2009. She is currently in serious condition and is known to have had recent contact with sick and dead poultry prior to the onset of her illness. Further investigations are currently underway. Control measures have been implemented and close contacts are being identified and monitored.

Of the 108 cases confirmed to date in Vietnam, 52 have been fatal.

Source: World Health Organization

Advice to travelers

WHO advises travelers to avoid contact with high-risk environments in affected countries

Travellers to areas affected by avian influenza in birds are not considered to be at elevated risk of infection unless direct and un-protected exposure to infected birds (including feathers, feces and under-cooked meat and egg products) occurs.

WHO continues to recommend that travelers to affected areas should avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms, and any free-ranging or caged poultry. Large amounts of the virus are known to be excreted in the droppings from infected birds. Populations in affected countries are advised to avoid contact with dead migratory birds or wild birds showing signs of disease.

Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their droppings, is considered the main route of human infection. Exposure risk is considered highest during slaughter, de-feathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking. There is no evidence that properly cooked poultry or poultry products can be a source of infection.

Travelers should contact their local health providers or national health authorities for supplementary information.

World Health Organization News Alert

Health experts across the globe have been monitoring a new and extremely severe influenza virus - the H5N1 strain. The H5N1 strain first infected humans in Hong Kong in 1997, causing 18 cases. Since mid-2003, this virus has caused the largest and most severe outbreaks in poultry on record. In December 2003, infections in people exposed to sick birds were identified. The countries that have reported infected humans include: Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. WHO has 258 cases on record, with 154 of those cases resulting in death.

The spread of this new virus has led medical professionals to conclude that there's an increasing probability of a pandemic in the near future. It is critical to pay close attention to your health this season and remain informed of the status of H5N1 influenza.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the global response to H5N1 human cases and monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza pandemic. Six distinct phases have been defined to facilitate pandemic preparedness planning. The present situation is categorized as phase 3: a virus new to humans is causing infections, but does not spread easily from one person to another.

ASU is closely tracking WHO's actions and will keep the university community notified if the World Health Organization declares a phase change. In the meantime, please review this Web site to learn more about the H5N1 virus and advice on personal preparedness plans.