<p>To: The Brandeis Student Community</p>
<p>From: Rick Sawyer, VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life </p>
<p>Campus Flu Status Update - October 23, 2009 </p>
<p>As of this morning, we have had just over 120 Influenza Like Illness cases since the start of the school year. We currently have 10 students who are sick and under flu care.</p>
<p>Ninety five percent of the colleges in America have reported flu outbreaks on their campuses. We believe that compared to other campuses, the number of flu cases here is very modest. This is a credit to our student community for their cooperation and common sense.</p>
<p>Now that we are half way through the semester, the danger for us is complacency. Please don’t allow the lower than expected impact of this flu to distract us from the diligence required to maintain control of potential spread. Please be wary of large gatherings, especially off campus. This is Fall Fest and we will have hundreds of visitors on campus at events and in residence halls and dining facilities. Many of you, if you do not have visitors, might be planning to visit friends and family elsewhere.</p>
<p>After this weekend we should anticipate a spike in reported flu cases. Please take care and practice common sense regarding the airborne spread of virus. There are hand sanitizers all around campus and they should be used. Taking great care when coughing and sneezing is still vital. If you are away this weekend, please understand that you might be in environments where the flu strain is more active.</p>
<p>If you have family visiting and any of them have active symptoms, please adjust your activities for the weekend.</p>
<p>We are told that the delivery of both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines are being delayed. When they arrive, we will notify the community and describe the vaccination process.</p>
<p>To those of you who have been sick and under our flu care - thank you so much for your cooperation. I know it was not fun being sick, and not fun practicing self quarantine. The success we have experienced in managing the flu at Brandeis is a credit to how sick students and their roommates/suitemates have handled themselves and cared about the health of the community.</p>
<p>Enjoy the weekend. Have fun. Stay well.</p>