University of Colorado officials and Boulder and Colorado public health officials today determined that the University of Colorado at Boulder has three possible cases of the A(H1N1) virus and the university announced extra precautions for the campus community.
Officials confirmed that one student living in a CU residence hall has been identified as a probable case and two students living off campus have been medically identified as suspected A(H1N1) cases, though not yet confirmed by the Colorado Department of Health. The student in CU housing has voluntarily participated in self-containment measures and is recovering successfully. Officials are confident these measures are working. Centers for Disease Control advisories warn against quarantining patients with A(H1N1), and the virus at this point appears to be no more severe than the seasonal flu in the overwhelming majority of documented cases in the United States.
CU-Boulder Interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano today asked that the annual "Midnight Breakfast" for CU-Boulder students to be held in the University Memorial Center this evening be canceled "as an extra precaution for our community.
"I want to make it clear that this is an administrative decision and not a strict medical necessity," said DiStefano.
Essential academic events - final examinations, departmental commencement ceremonies and general commencement, slated for May 8 at 8:30 a.m. in Folsom Field - will all go on as scheduled until further notice. Normal schedules are in place at CU-Boulder for all activities and essential functions.
"We will provide additional quantities of sanitizing hand gel for commencement," said Deb Nelson, emergency planning coordinator for CU-Boulder's Department of Environmental Health and Safety. "We don't perceive a general health threat at commencement, which is outdoors, but we are urging all students, their families and other visitors to continue to follow the health safety measures we and other agencies have provided."
These measures, said Dr. Pamela Talley, medical director at CU-Boulder's Wardenburg Health Center, include covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough and washing your hands frequently. If you are actively ill with a cough and a fever, stay at home. As a basic precaution, if you are pregnant, immunosuppressed or have small children, you should consider avoiding large public gatherings like commencement for the time being at CU or anyplace else."
DiStefano has asked CU-Boulder's pandemic flu working group to continue to meet every day and issue updates to the campus community daily for as long as the virus appears to be present on campus.
"It is important to take prudent, careful measures here to protect our community, and to take a thoughtful and measured approach. Every indication we have is that this virus is no more severe than the seasonal flu at this point, but we want to do what we can now to contain its spread and finish out the work of the semester," he said.
FAQs
How many cases are in the CU-Boulder community?
There is one probable case and two suspected cases.
What is the difference between probable and suspect cases?
A probable case is one that has tested positively for the influenza A virus and negative for seasonal flu, and the symptoms for the H1N1 virus are present. The symptoms include an upper respiratory infection with a fever of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and at least one of the following: a runny nose, congestion, sore throat or a cough. A suspected case is one who has tested positive for influenza A, but we don't know whether they have seasonal flu or A(H1N1).
Why are we not closing campus and canceling final examinations and commencement?
Since this is not a severe flu and the residence hall student has been self-isolating, there is no immediate substantial risk to the larger student population. Up to this point this flu has been no more severe than regular seasonal flu in cases seen in the United States.
Why are you canceling midnight breakfast?
As an extra precaution, the chancellor has asked that all non-essential social events on campus be curtailed in the final week of the semester. The chancellor and the executive leadership team have made this decision as an extra precaution - it is not a strict medical necessity. Only events essential to the academic calendar - final exams, departmental and general commencement, will continue as scheduled.
What other campus events are canceled?
At this time no other events have been canceled. The chancellor has directed department chairs, in consultation with their deans, to decide if "discretionary" events should be canceled.
What should a student do about final exams if they are sick?
If a student has flu symptoms, he or she should contact his/her professor to make other arrangements to take the final.
What should the community do to protect themselves from getting sick?
Wash hands frequently with warm water and soap and/or use an alcohol-based hand gel. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and visit your health care provider if you have flu symptoms. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth (without washing your hands first). Additionally, do not share drinks, sodas, or lip balm with others. For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at
Who is at special risk with the H1N1 virus?
People who are immune suppressed, pregnant women, young infants, and people with certain medical conditions (i.e., diabetes and asthma) are at greater risk for developing complications from A(H1N1).
Is there a threat to the residence hall general population?
This flu is not more severe than regular flu. However, since there is no vaccine against this flu, we must work as a community to protect those in our population who are at an increased risk. The residence halls are not at any increased threat - but students there are in closer contact with each other than in other areas of our university community. They have more opportunity to spread this virus, so they need to be extra diligent with washing their hands and covering their noses and mouths when they cough or sneeze.
What is the university doing to contain the virus?
We are doing everything we can to educate and inform our students, staff and faculty about this virus and how to protect themselves and protect others. We have increased the availability of hand sanitizers, masks and tissues for people to use. We are also updating our messages as new information is available.