By Steve Gilliam , University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted 9-11-07
GREENSBORO, NC -- The university is continuing to develop plans to deal with the possible spread of avian influenza in the Triad and the state. Commonly known as “bird flu,” the disease has the potential to pose a serious health threat to members of the UNCG community and the public in the future.
UNCG and other campuses in the University of North Carolina system are taking part in a statewide tabletop exercise during September to gauge the effectiveness of campus plans.
Coordinated by Dr. Cheryl Callahan, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, numerous committees have examined the potential impact on the campus in the event of a pandemic. Other members of the core planning committee are Dr. Alan Boyette, vice provost, Bruce Griffin, assistant vice chancellor for environmental safety, and Dr. Tresa Saxton, director, and Keith McCrary, associate director, both of Student Health Services.
UNCG officials are continuing to monitor the disease through reports from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Although random cases have been reported elsewhere in the world, there is no present danger in the United States.
If a situation develops, information on plans and developments at UNCG will be sent to the UNCG community by email and voicemail should it become necessary. Details are available on the Student Health Services website, http://www.uncg.edu/ure/flu/, about protective measures that can be taken to avoid infection during the flu and cold season.
“Hopefully this threat will not materialize,” Callahan said. “The University, however, is taking the prospect of a flu pandemic very seriously. If it does become reality, students, faculty and staff should take all possible measures to stay well and to guarantee their own health and safety. Information is available on the Student Health Services website referenced above.”
The University has spent more than a year developing a plan to deal with a possible avian flu pandemic in North Carolina. Representatives from across the campus worked on how the University would respond at three different levels of alert. These levels are based on the World Health Organization’s pandemic phases and the top level for UNCG would be suspending classes and/or closing the University for a period of 4-8 weeks.
For more information, visit the websites of the:
• Centers for Disease Control at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
• World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html.
