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Swine Flu Update

Members of the University of Arizona Campus Emergency Response Team have reviewed the updated U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) travel advisory from May 15, 2009. In that update, the CDC has downgraded its travel advisory from a “Travel Health Warning” to a “Travel Health Precaution,” which includes removing the recommendation against non-essential travel to Mexico. The UA-CERT Policy Group has decided to continue to follow its practice of having UA travel recommendations conform to the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and will now allow all University related travel to Mexico.

However, the change in the UA position on travel to Mexico comes with the strong recommendation that all faculty, staff and students with any condition that puts them at high risk for a more serious or complicated case of influenza consider postponing travel to Mexico for at least one more month. High risk conditions include chronic heart or lung diseases (including asthma), or any chronic condition that compromises the immune system. For a more detailed discussion of travel precautions, please see the CDC recommendations at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/travel-health-precaution/novel-h1n1-flu-mexico.aspx. The decision came during a meeting of the UA-CERT, which continues to monitor the status of the H1N1 virus, also known as "swine flu," which appears to have more serious effects in the cases contracted in Mexico, especially among young adults.

Out of concern for the health of members of the UA community, UA-CERT also reasserted its earlier statement that UA faculty, staff or students who choose to travel to Mexico for personal reasons are expected to monitor their health closely for seven days following their return. Should flu symptoms develop, they are expected to stay away from work or school, contact their medical care provider and limit contact with others.

UA-CERT also asks employees to review the UA's "Interim Policy Concerning Study, Travel and Research in Countries Under U.S. State Department Travel Warnings." That policy is available online at http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/Interim_Travel.pdf.

UA-CERT continues to monitor the situation daily and will issue updated information as needed.

Relevant Links
Campus Emergency Response Team - H1N1 Information
CDC Travelers' Health
UAlert
Staying Healthy

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