Public school and university officials expect to know later next week whether the H1N1 flu will affect plans for graduation and commencement services on May 16 and 17.
“At this point, we’re working with the schools and in conjunction with the Department of Health and environment to try to decide what the appropriate action is to take,” said Ann Mayo, environmental health manager for Flint Hills Community Health Center. “We have no plans to stop any of the commencements, but that could change at any time.”
While unnecessary air travel out of the country is discouraged, no formal restrictions have been put in place.
The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level from 4 to 5 this week, which reflected the spread of the virus from person to person in at least two countries.
Level 5, according to WHO Web site definition, “is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.”
“Containment is no longer a feasible option,” Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO’s deputy director general, was quoted in the New York Times as saying Monday night in Geneva. “The world should focus on mitigation. We recommend not closing borders or restricting travel.”
Mayo said that her department is working with schools and KDHE to decide the appropriate actions to take. Though the WHO alert level may be raised to pandemic status, as has been forecast, Mayo emphasized that “pandemic” indicates the scope of the flu’s presence, not the severity of the disease.
“Pandemic means it’s very widespread. It’s everywhere,” Mayo said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s deadly.”
In the United States, most of the cases confirmed have been relatively mild.
Officials at Emporia State University and the Emporia school district are keeping a daily watch on developments as the flu spreads.
“We take our guidelines from the KDHE , along with the local health department,” said Marjorie Werly, director of public relations for ESU. “The decision will be based on cases in the area. ... We are in contact with the local health department daily.”
Werly said that information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta also is used as university officials respond to the flu outbreak.
Recommendations for students, faculty members and other university employees are posted on the ESU Web site.
“We have some precautions,” Werly said. “This is a stressful time for students” without the complication of a flu epidemic. Counseling is available for students who need help, she added.
Safety of the students, faculty and staff is the university’s priority in dealing with the H1N1 virus, Werly said.
“We have our pandemic response plan already in place,” Werly said. “We’re as ready as we can be.”