H1N1 Influenza Update

August 21, 2009

Montgomery College continues to actively monitor the status of the H1N1 influenza virus (formerly referred to as “swine flu”)and to participate in planning for a possible increase in the number of local cases this fall. Montgomery College’s Director of Emergency Planning,Bob Wirth, and Environmental Safety Coordinator, Steve Maloney, participate in weekly informational and planning briefings conducted by the County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the County Department of Health and Human Services. They alsocontinue to monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and State and County agencies concerning the H1N1virus’ severity and outbreak which includes the just released CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 Academic Year. The information provided by the various agencies will be used to guide the College’s operational planning.

Additional updates for the Montgomery College community will be provided through Inside MC Online, My MC, and e-mail. We encourage you to post these updates for employees and students who do not have access to e-mail or online communications.
Bob Wirth and Steve Maloney, in consultation with the County’s health department, will determine if any operational changes need to be made in the future and if necessary provide recommendations to the President for consideration. If changes are made, they will be communicated to the Montgomery College community through the same communication channels that are used in the case of weather emergencies, which include MC Urgent e-mails, a Web site message, notification of the local media, and Montgomery College ALERT text or e-mail messages.
General Influenza Information from the CDC

  • Influenza virus is contagious and is spread from human to human through coughing, sneezing, and sometimes by touching something with the flu viruses on it and then touching themouth or nose.
  • Per CDC guidelines, one of the best ways to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. As always, a vaccine will be available this year to protect against seasonal influenza. There is no vaccine available right now to protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus. However, a vaccine is currently in production, and initial doses of this vaccine are expected to become available for the public later in the fall.
  • CDC recommends the following groups receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine:
  • Pregnant women;
  • Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age;
  • Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel;
  • All people from 6 months through 24 years of age;
  • Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
  • If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.
  • Use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes. Use of respirators or facemasks generally is not recommended for workers in non-healthcare occupational settings for general work activities.
  • What should I do if I get sick? If you live in areas where people have been identified with novel H1N1 virus and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people.CDC recommends that individuals with influenza-like illness remain at home and away from other people until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8° C] or greater), or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications.Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.
  • What should I do if I have a sick family member? If youare well butyou have anill family memberat home with novel H1N1 flu, you can go to work as usual.You should monitoryour health every day, notifyyour supervisor and stay home ifyou become ill.If you havean underlyingmedical condition orarepregnant you should callyour health care provider for advice.

Tips for Preventing the Flu

  • Stay informed. In addition to updates from Montgomery College, see below for “Links to Additional Information.”
  • Follow the instructions on the Health Alertto be posted in each campus restroom.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze.
  • Alcohol-based hand cleaners (minimum 60% alcohol) are also effective if soap and water are not available. Rub hand cleaner into hands until hands are dry.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people. This is called social distancing. H1N1 virus, like all flu, is spread through the air so keeping some distance will give the virus space to drop to the ground if someone is coughing or sneezing.
  • Monitor yourself and your family for symptoms of fever > 100 degrees F AND sore throat or cough. Other symptoms may include chills, headache, sore throat, cough, body aches, and vomiting or diarrhea.
  • CDC recommends that individuals with influenza-like illness remain at home and away from other people until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8° C] or greater), or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications. Influenza-like illness is defined as a fever plus cough and/or sore throat. However, some people with influenza will not have fever. Therefore, absence of fever does not mean absence of infection.

Links to Additional Information
One-stop access to U.S. Government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information

Montgomery County

Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Contact Information
For more information about Montgomery College’s planning and response, please contact Bob Wirth by e-mail at or 240-567-4308, or Steve Maloney by e-mail at or 240-567-4292.