Emergency Communications

There are no emergency events ongoing at the Boston University Medical Campus.

The BUMC, consisting of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, the Goldman School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health, is operating on its normal schedule.

Boston University School of Medicine
Office of the Dean

Dear BUSM Faculty, Staff and Students:

As we begin the fall semester, please note that all faculty, students and staff with flu-like illness should stay away from classes and limit interactions with other people (“self-isolation”) for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever.

Medical and dental students and faculty and staff with patient care responsibilities must isolate themselves for 7 days or 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is later. Most students with mild flu symptoms do not need to visit their doctor.

Students who have a medical condition* that puts them at increased risk of severe illness from flu, are concerned about their illness, or develop severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing should seek medical attention or call Student Health.

Should students arrive for class presenting flu-like symptoms, they should be sent home and told to contact their physicians or Student Health Services via phone (353-3575) if they are experiencing severe symptoms.

Should a member of the faculty experience these symptoms, they should contact his or her health care provider, and then the appropriate dean’s office so that class can be cancelled or coverage can be secured.

Given the potential seriousness of a pandemic, faculty are asked to be flexible regarding this emerging situation.

* Examples of medical conditions that may put students at higher risk for flu complications:  asthma, other chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes; immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)

Karen Antman, MD
Provost, Boston University Medical Campus
Dean, School of Medicine
Professor of Medicine

Health Advisory

August 31, 2009

To the Boston University community,

As I’m sure you are aware, H1N1 Swine Flu continues to cause illness in people around the world. National, state and local health authorities are carefully monitoring the spread of the H1N1 Swine Flu. Boston University Student Health Services is here to help in answering your questions. We have links to more flu-related information on our web sitehttp://www.bu.edu/shs.

Public Health Authorities are still recommending that people who are ill with symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose should stay at home to avoid exposing others to infection. Please note that we are working with faculty to apply leniency on class absences during this time of global health concerns.

Once you arrive on campus, vigilant hygiene is the best way to avoid infections. We recommend the following:

  • Please frequently wash your hands with warm water and soap or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Although Boston University provides numerous hand sanitizer dispensers on campus, we strongly recommend that you bring additional hand sanitizer along with you so that you will have an adequate supply to use when needed.
  • Please avoid touching your face as this can transfer germs from your hands to your eyes, noses and mouth.
  • If you cough or sneeze, please do so into your sleeve or into a tissue. Do not cough or sneeze into your hands, as this will allow you to transmit the infection to surfaces you come in contact with.
  • Please plan to receive a seasonal flu vaccine. SHS will be offering a series of flu vaccine clinics and we also offer the vaccine in the office. The cost of the seasonal flu vaccine is $30 and this cost is covered for those with the Aetna Student Health plan. For those with other types of insurance, you can place the charge on your student account. Swine flu vaccine will be available later in the fall.
  • If you become ill once you have arrived at campus, and you are living in undergraduate student housing, please alert your RA. Your RA has received specific guidance on assisting students exhibiting flu-like symptoms. We are working to provide isolation for students with influenza like illness on campus to avoid spread of infection.
  • If you live off-campus, or in graduate housing, please stay at home until any fever you may have has resolved for a minimum of 24 hours (without the use of fever lowering medication).
  • Faculty are asked to monitor absenteeism in the classroom and alert Student Health Services (David McBride, Director, Denise Buckley, Director of Nursing or Mark Weber, Senior Staff Physician) to alert us to students with influenza like illness.

Please also feel free to call us at (617) 353-3575 or send a secure message athttp://www.bu.edu/shs and click “Patient Connect“. With your help we will all remain healthy this season.

Sincerely,

David McBride, MD

Director, Student Health Services

Important Health Information

Incident Command Team members to contact:

Peter Fiedler, Vice President for Administrative Services pfiedler@bu.edu

Gary Nicksa, Vice President for Operations nicksa@bu.edu

Steve Morash, Director of Emergency Response Planning samorash@bu.edu

 

Contact|Directory|BUMC
September 4, 2009
Primary teaching affiliate
of BU School of Medicine