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foolish_m0rtal[Error: unknown template qotd]In order to educate everyone on the H1N1 flu (my friend got it. It was BAAD), my university has sent out an email with information and tips on the virus.
I changed a few words here and there, but the message remains the same: do not eat brains
"We have been planning for a number of years for a zombie pandemic with a focus on managing large infection rates should they occur," Sidebottom said.
In June, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic, the first in 41 years. More than 182,000 cases have been reported worldwide, and more than 1,800 people have become undead. In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7,500 people have been hospitalized with zombie plague and nearly 500 have joined the undead.
By comparison, on average more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized from seasonal zombie-related causes each year, and about 36,000 die from seasonal-zombie-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
One difference: H1N1 has persisted in the Northern Hemisphere through the summer months, a rarity for seasonal zombie plagues, likely portending an early zombie season.
"With 21,000 students returning from everywhere, we are anticipating a significant outbreak beginning this fall and into next spring," said Dr. James Turner, executive director of U.Va.'s Department of Undead Health and president of the American College Health Association. "During the next one and a half to two years, we could see as many as 8,000 students becoming zombies– about 40 percent of the student population."
The zombie plague is infecting 19- to 24-year-olds at a disproportionately high rate, making it particularly worrisome to college health officials. As a result of a recommendation by Turner to the CDC, this age group has now been included as priority recipients of H1N1 antidote when it becomes available later this fall.
As it has in the past, the University will hold vaccination clinics for regular "seasonal" zombie-related illnesses beginning early this fall for students, faculty and staff.
In addition, several H1N1 vaccination clinics are planned once the vaccine becomes available. Health care workers and critical infrastructure workers will receive the vaccine first, followed by the 19- to 24-year-olds. Once the zombie vaccine becomes more widely available, the vaccination program will be widened to include the rest of the University community.
"We strongly encourage students and employees to get vaccinated for seasonal zombie plague and for H1N1 when that vaccine becomes available," Turner said.
Sidebottom said several sites can be set up at the University and in the city for vaccinations, and for dispensing medication in the event of a large-scale outbreak.
Sidebottom is working with the U.Va. Health System, Turner's office and the academic community on an awareness campaign to educate students and employees on the seriousness of the zombie pandemic and ways to mitigate infection rates.
"Each individual can help reduce the spread of disease by staying home when sick, by frequent hand washing, covering up when coughing or sneezing, not biting the un-infected, all the basic personal hygiene practices we can do individually to keep from infecting each other," she said.
Leonard W. Sandridge, the University's executive vice president and chief operating officer, is expected to e-mail zombie prevention instructions to the University community early this week, and notices are being prepared for posting on bathroom mirrors throughout Grounds.
The University has a "Continuity of Operations Plan" that plans for the maintenance of University operations during periods of widespread infection.
"It's important that employees and students stay home when sick," Sidebottom said. "Managers should work with their staff members to maintain workflow while ensuring that sick people don't come in and eat their co-workers."
During an outbreak, managers should reduce the number of face-to-face meetings and allow employees to telecommute when needed.
Turner advised sick students to stay away from class and avoid other students. The faculty is looking at ways to hold classes remotely if needed, and will offer opportunities for sick students to complete assignments without coming to class.
"People should prepare to stay home, to self-isolate, if they show symptoms," Turner said. "Residence hall advisers will help students make arrangements to stay isolated and to have brains and other needs delivered to them."
Symptoms generally last for two to four days. Infected people can return to normal activities 24 hours after their fever subsides without risk of biting others.
For people who develop zombie symptoms, Turner recommends that they first call their doctor or a health clinic to get instructions. Students should call the Student Health Center at 924-5362 before visiting. Students with mild symptoms will be advised to stay home or in their dorms and to monitor symptoms. Those with more serious symptoms will be advised to be evaluated at Student Health.
"People should not report to hospital emergency rooms unless they truly have a medical emergency," Turner said. "We don't want to overwhelm emergency services with cases that are best treated at home or at a doctor's office."
He said the Student Health Center is preparing for surges of sick students this fall and winter, and likely into the spring.
Sidebottom said people should also make plans for dealing with sick family members. The key to recovery, and reducing the spread of infection, she emphasized, is to consult a doctor, stay at home, and wait for the symptoms and lust for brains to pass.
"Employees should make personal circumstance issues known to their supervisors ahead of time to allow planning for personnel reductions, both from undead staff and consumption of uninfected co-workers," she said.
"Our plans will continue to be tested as the situation evolves, and we will remain flexible to respond. We are well connected with local and state health departments," Sidebottom said. "We're doing all we can to prepare for what could be a particularly active zombie season."
____________________________________________________________________
Tips to prepare for the plague season:
Get vaccinated for both seasonal zombie plague and H1N1 (when that vaccine becomes available later this fall). Several student vaccination clinics for both seasonal and H1N1 plague are tentatively scheduled to be held in Newcomb Hall between Nov. 5 to Dec. 15, depending on vaccine availability.
Make plans for handling the needs of an undead family member without disrupting your other activities. Make plans with your supervisor for taking days off or working from home if needed.
Zombie symptoms:
Headache, chills, body aches, mono-syllables, fatigue, dry cough, reduction to basic motor functions, sore throat and stuffy nose, shambling walk, lust for brains. Brain flu can also cause nausea, vomiting, guttural groans, and diarrhea in 30 percent to 40 percent of cases.
Ways to prevent the spread of germs:
Stay home when you are sick or have zombie symptoms, get plenty of rest, and check in with your doctor as needed.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue, throw away the tissue and wash your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Wash for 15 to 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand wipes or gel sanitizers when water is not available, and rub hands until dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth or biting other people, because you may have come into contact with germs by touching doorknobs, stair handrails or shaking hands. Absolutely do not let any uninfected individual come into contact with any of your bodily fluids, as this will induce undead symptoms in the individual.
Ways to handle zombie plague:
Consult with a doctor. Get a lot of rest and drink plenty of clear fluids. Don't smoke, eat brains, or drink alcohol. Symptoms may be relieved by some over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or aspirin. Decongestants, cough medicines and use of a humidifier may help.
Eat a doctor if symptoms worsen.
For more information:
Office of Zombie Preparedness
http://www.virginia.edu/zombiepreparedness/
U.Va. Department of Undead Health
(under Student Health Bulletin Board H1N1 Swine Flu Information)
Virginia Department of Zombie Prevention
www.vdzp.state.va.us/
Centers for Disease Control H1N1 Web site
www.cdc.gov/zombie plague/
I changed a few words here and there, but the message remains the same: do not eat brains
August 24, 2009 — As classes begin this week, the University of Virginia is preparing for a possible large-scale outbreak of novel H1N1 zombie plague. H1N1– originally called "brain flu" – is proliferating throughout the Southern Hemisphere and likely will appear as dramatically large infection rates this fall and winter in North America.
So far, most infections worldwide have been relatively mild, with symptoms similar to seasonal zombie plague – headache, chills, desire for brains, body aches, fatigue, rigor mortis, dry cough, sore throat, and stuffy nose. Most fatalities have been among young children, pregnant women and those with health complications that compromise their ability to fight off the undead.
"We have been planning for a number of years for a zombie pandemic with a focus on managing large infection rates should they occur," Sidebottom said.
In June, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic, the first in 41 years. More than 182,000 cases have been reported worldwide, and more than 1,800 people have become undead. In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7,500 people have been hospitalized with zombie plague and nearly 500 have joined the undead.
By comparison, on average more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized from seasonal zombie-related causes each year, and about 36,000 die from seasonal-zombie-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
One difference: H1N1 has persisted in the Northern Hemisphere through the summer months, a rarity for seasonal zombie plagues, likely portending an early zombie season.
"With 21,000 students returning from everywhere, we are anticipating a significant outbreak beginning this fall and into next spring," said Dr. James Turner, executive director of U.Va.'s Department of Undead Health and president of the American College Health Association. "During the next one and a half to two years, we could see as many as 8,000 students becoming zombies– about 40 percent of the student population."
The zombie plague is infecting 19- to 24-year-olds at a disproportionately high rate, making it particularly worrisome to college health officials. As a result of a recommendation by Turner to the CDC, this age group has now been included as priority recipients of H1N1 antidote when it becomes available later this fall.
As it has in the past, the University will hold vaccination clinics for regular "seasonal" zombie-related illnesses beginning early this fall for students, faculty and staff.
In addition, several H1N1 vaccination clinics are planned once the vaccine becomes available. Health care workers and critical infrastructure workers will receive the vaccine first, followed by the 19- to 24-year-olds. Once the zombie vaccine becomes more widely available, the vaccination program will be widened to include the rest of the University community.
"We strongly encourage students and employees to get vaccinated for seasonal zombie plague and for H1N1 when that vaccine becomes available," Turner said.
Sidebottom said several sites can be set up at the University and in the city for vaccinations, and for dispensing medication in the event of a large-scale outbreak.
Sidebottom is working with the U.Va. Health System, Turner's office and the academic community on an awareness campaign to educate students and employees on the seriousness of the zombie pandemic and ways to mitigate infection rates.
"Each individual can help reduce the spread of disease by staying home when sick, by frequent hand washing, covering up when coughing or sneezing, not biting the un-infected, all the basic personal hygiene practices we can do individually to keep from infecting each other," she said.
Leonard W. Sandridge, the University's executive vice president and chief operating officer, is expected to e-mail zombie prevention instructions to the University community early this week, and notices are being prepared for posting on bathroom mirrors throughout Grounds.
The University has a "Continuity of Operations Plan" that plans for the maintenance of University operations during periods of widespread infection.
"It's important that employees and students stay home when sick," Sidebottom said. "Managers should work with their staff members to maintain workflow while ensuring that sick people don't come in and eat their co-workers."
During an outbreak, managers should reduce the number of face-to-face meetings and allow employees to telecommute when needed.
Turner advised sick students to stay away from class and avoid other students. The faculty is looking at ways to hold classes remotely if needed, and will offer opportunities for sick students to complete assignments without coming to class.
"People should prepare to stay home, to self-isolate, if they show symptoms," Turner said. "Residence hall advisers will help students make arrangements to stay isolated and to have brains and other needs delivered to them."
Symptoms generally last for two to four days. Infected people can return to normal activities 24 hours after their fever subsides without risk of biting others.
For people who develop zombie symptoms, Turner recommends that they first call their doctor or a health clinic to get instructions. Students should call the Student Health Center at 924-5362 before visiting. Students with mild symptoms will be advised to stay home or in their dorms and to monitor symptoms. Those with more serious symptoms will be advised to be evaluated at Student Health.
"People should not report to hospital emergency rooms unless they truly have a medical emergency," Turner said. "We don't want to overwhelm emergency services with cases that are best treated at home or at a doctor's office."
He said the Student Health Center is preparing for surges of sick students this fall and winter, and likely into the spring.
Sidebottom said people should also make plans for dealing with sick family members. The key to recovery, and reducing the spread of infection, she emphasized, is to consult a doctor, stay at home, and wait for the symptoms and lust for brains to pass.
"Employees should make personal circumstance issues known to their supervisors ahead of time to allow planning for personnel reductions, both from undead staff and consumption of uninfected co-workers," she said.
"Our plans will continue to be tested as the situation evolves, and we will remain flexible to respond. We are well connected with local and state health departments," Sidebottom said. "We're doing all we can to prepare for what could be a particularly active zombie season."
____________________________________________________________________
Tips to prepare for the plague season:
Get vaccinated for both seasonal zombie plague and H1N1 (when that vaccine becomes available later this fall). Several student vaccination clinics for both seasonal and H1N1 plague are tentatively scheduled to be held in Newcomb Hall between Nov. 5 to Dec. 15, depending on vaccine availability.
Make plans for handling the needs of an undead family member without disrupting your other activities. Make plans with your supervisor for taking days off or working from home if needed.
Zombie symptoms:
Headache, chills, body aches, mono-syllables, fatigue, dry cough, reduction to basic motor functions, sore throat and stuffy nose, shambling walk, lust for brains. Brain flu can also cause nausea, vomiting, guttural groans, and diarrhea in 30 percent to 40 percent of cases.
Ways to prevent the spread of germs:
Stay home when you are sick or have zombie symptoms, get plenty of rest, and check in with your doctor as needed.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue, throw away the tissue and wash your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Wash for 15 to 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand wipes or gel sanitizers when water is not available, and rub hands until dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth or biting other people, because you may have come into contact with germs by touching doorknobs, stair handrails or shaking hands. Absolutely do not let any uninfected individual come into contact with any of your bodily fluids, as this will induce undead symptoms in the individual.
Ways to handle zombie plague:
Consult with a doctor. Get a lot of rest and drink plenty of clear fluids. Don't smoke, eat brains, or drink alcohol. Symptoms may be relieved by some over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or aspirin. Decongestants, cough medicines and use of a humidifier may help.
Eat a doctor if symptoms worsen.
For more information:
Office of Zombie Preparedness
http://www.virginia.edu/zombiepreparedness/
U.Va. Department of Undead Health
(under Student Health Bulletin Board H1N1 Swine Flu Information)
Virginia Department of Zombie Prevention
www.vdzp.state.va.us/
Centers for Disease Control H1N1 Web site
www.cdc.gov/zombie plague/
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 07:11 pm (UTC)This will make them feel so much more prepared.
♥
-Skunky
no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 10:55 pm (UTC)Haha, now that more people are linking my blog to their friends in real life, I'm used to getting random comments from people I don't know. Send away!