Commencement moves ahead as planned
To UW-Green Bay Students, Faculty and Staff,
Commencement is this Saturday (May 16) and all graduation day activities are going ahead as planned.
UW-Green Bay officials are aware of the seven confirmed cases of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus in Brown County and the nearly 500 cases in the state. However, as of today (Wednesday, May 13), there are no confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus on the UW-Green Bay campus.
State and local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not recommended cancelling large gatherings or commencement activities.
Members of the UW-Green Bay Emergency Management team remind everyone that since our graduates may originate from all parts of the globe, their family members and visitors coming to campus can come from many locations as well. Any social gathering could potentially expose people to any viruses, including the H1N1 virus.
The influenza virus is thought to be spread mainly by person to person contact via coughing or sneezing by infected individuals to others around them.
UW-Green Bay officials and local public health authorities ask everyone to observe the following precautions to help protect themselves and others from further transmission of any disease:
• Anyone who is feeling ill should stay home, rest and limit contact with others to help reduce further transmissions.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your upper sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Use your own drinking cups and straws.
• The CDC recommends that persons who are at high risk of complications from novel Influenza A (H1N1) infection (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions, children less than 5 years, persons 65 or older, and pregnant women) should consider their risk of exposure to novel influenza if they attend public gatherings in communities where novel H1N1 virus is circulating. In communities with several reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, persons who are at risk of complications from influenza should consider staying away from public gatherings.
For a Question and Answers guide about the H1N1 virus, visit the CDC fact sheet at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
For more on the CDC’s recommendations about public gatherings visit: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/public_gatherings.htm
For information on the H1N1 virus in the state visit: http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/
