Influenza Information

For Employees

September 8, 2009

Memorandum

To: Texas A&M Employees

Campus preparations are firmly in place for what local, state and federal health officials anticipate will be an active season worldwide for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus. However, efforts to fully combat the spread of the illness can't be successful without your help. As you know, precaution is key to help prevent the spread of the illness. So, we strongly encourage you to get a seasonal flu shot, practice good hand washing, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and cover your cough.

Most importantly, if you are sick, please stay home - except to seek medical care - and do not go to work or class until you have been without a fever for 24 hours without taking a fever-reducing medication. We ask that you notify your supervisor immediately if you become ill with flu-like symptoms and ensure that your leave records are as up-to-date as possible. If you come to work sick, you may be required to take leave if your supervisor determines that continued work could potentially create a significant risk to co-workers and other Texas A&M employees.

It is important that Texas A&M System regulations regarding sick leave (PDF) be followed. As stated in the regulation and in an effort to ease the burden on health care providers, if an employee is ill for more than three days with the flu, supervisors and/or managers are permitted to allow the employee to provide a written statement of the facts concerning the illness without requiring a doctor's note. However, based on the specific situation, supervisors and/or managers may require documentation by the physician for any illness of more than three days.

Information on faculty issues regarding course management, absenteeism and related matters is forthcoming and will be fully addressed in a separate memo from the Office of the Provost.

To help us better assess the potential impact of the virus, we strongly recommend that HR liaisons or Department Heads immediately report unusually high absences due to flu-like illness within your organizations to the Human Resources Operations Department at 862-1723 or 845-7995. This will greatly help university officials better understand the potential magnitude of the situation and allow maximum time to fully implement appropriate emergency plans.

With the growing concern about the spread of the virus, efforts have intensified campus-wide to help ensure the safety of the Aggie family. Custodial Services has implemented supplemental cleaning protocols to help ensure that you are as well protected as possible during the flu season. In highly trafficked areas, custodians are using sanitizing wipes to frequently clean water fountains, door knobs and handles, elevator buttons, handrails, glass, trim on doors and light switches. Also, restrooms and classrooms are being policed and cleaned more frequently than usual. Residence Hall staff will be wiping down common areas frequently with disinfectants. We encourage you to consider adopting a similar practice in your organization to help prevent the spread of the flu.

This important public health issue continues to be closely monitored by university, state and federal officials and we will continue to update you as new information becomes available. Also, please visit this website, http://www.tamu.edu/emergency/procedures/flu.html, regularly for updated information.

Charley Clark
Associate Vice President for University Risk & Compliance