2:57 p.m., May 9, 2009----The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidance documents on the H1N1 flu. CDC's goals continue to be to reduce transmissions and illness severity and to provide information that will assist the public, as well as health care providers and public officials.

Members of the University community are reminded of the importance of taking precautions to prevent the spread of H1N1, as well as other diseases. The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds and using alcohol-based products when water is not available. It is also important to wash hands before preparing or eating food and after going to the bathroom.

Earlier this year, UD launched a program to promote good hand hygiene, since keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Purell hand sanitizer stations have been installed in each campus dining hall, the Trabant University Center and the Perkins Student Center, and a poster campaign outlines proper handwashing techniques.

Anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms should avoid close contact with others as much as possible, and that means not going to class or to work. UD students who are experiencing the symptoms of H1N1 flu should go to the Student Health Services in Laurel Hall, and faculty and staff experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact their personal physicians.

H1N1 symptoms include:

--Fever, greater than 100 degrees F,
--Sore throat,
--Cough,
--Stuffy nose,
--Chills,
--Headache and body aches and
--Fatigue.

For more information about H1N1 in the state of Delaware, visit the Delaware Division of Public Health Web site.

An archive of information provided to the University community about H1N1 is available by clicking here.

In addition, the University of Delaware Library has added a brief list of current information resources about the H1N1 influenza to the "What's New" section of the library home page, found bottom right. To link directly to the list, click here.