Update 27.07.09: Swine Flu: Stay Alert!

With the sharp increase in the number of confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Sarawak, and the influx of students onto the campus for the start of the second semester, it would be prudent for all students and staff to be extra cautious of the threat posed by the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

We have a number of precautionary measures and protocols in place in the event of any suspected or confirmed cases

(see below), and we urge all of you to familiarise yourselves with them:

• Staff and students returning/arriving from hotspots will be interviewed regarding their health by the Campus Health Officer for   up to one (1) week upon arrival.

• All staff and students are expected to exercise personal responsibility, that is, practise healthy habits and report any illness.

• Anyone with clinical symptoms of Swine Flu (fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and   runny nose and   possibly vomiting and diarrhoea) MUST report, or be reported to Campus Health Officer Sheryl   Mattu at the Health & First Aid   Centre (ext. 3217 or 019-885 6233). If Sheryl cannot be contacted, please contact  Dr. Adeline Wong at ext. 3802 or the Campus   Hotline at ext. 3930.

• Persons found to have symptoms will be supplied with 3-ply surgical masks by the Health Services & First Aid Centre, the   Health Department’s H1N1 Operations Room will immediately be notified, and they will be referred  to Miri Hospital for tests.

• Persons found to be positive for H1N1 must be quarantined until clear of symptoms and fully recovered. Their health will be   regularly checked, and all persons in recent contact with them MUST self-quarantine themselves (in their homes or student   accommodation) for five (5) days. It is imperative that students in campus accommodation who develop any symptoms report   themselves to Sheryl immediately.

• If they are found to be negative for H1N1, they are to treat it as the common flu and self-quarantine themselves in their home or   room until no longer infectious or showing symptoms.

For more information on the protocols, please contact Sheryl or Dr. Adeline.

For more information on the Swine Flu pandemic, visit http://www.moh.gov.my and http://www.who.int.

For Swine Flu updates and advisories from Curtin University and Curtin Sarawak, log on to
www.curtin.edu.my/updates/swineflu.htm

For updates from Curtin University, Western Australia, log on to www.curtin.edu.au/alerts/swineflu.cfm.