Grad School Dean Jon Butler sent a public health announcement to graduate students today. The email links to information about

• prevention of illness
• emergency warning signs that you may have swine flu
• what to do if you think you have flu

GSA wishes everyone good health. Below is Dean Butler's email.

from Jon Butler
to Graduate Students
date Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 8:40 AM
subject H1N1 Issues and Resources
mailed-by yale.edu

hide details 8:40 AM (2 hours ago)

To: All students in the Graduate School
From: Jon Butler, Dean
Re: H1N1 Flu issues and resources

You have already received messages from Yale University Secretary Linda Lorimer and UHS Director Paul Genecin with information and reminders about the upcoming H1N1 flu season.

Here, I write to ask you to familiarize yourself with the general information about H1N1 flu online at http://www.yale.edu/secretary/emergency/swineflu.html. Of course, we don't want you to get the flu. But we want you to be as prepared as possible if you do catch it.

Here are some general things that we all can and should do:

1) Be prepared with basic supplies in case of the flu. See the website above.
2) If you have flu-like symptoms, please call YUHS on the flu line at 1-866-924-YALE [9253].
3) Please plan to stay at home or in your room and do not go to classes, libraries, labs or TF assignments while you are symptomatic with a high fever or for 24 hours after the fever has subsided. Faculty and research supervisors to will understand and accommodate your need to stay isolated at home with the flu. I have written separately to all Graduate Faculty to remind them that students with health issues will miss classes and labs and will need clear and generous "make-up" opportunities.
4) Try to help housemates, suitemates, classmates, friends and family if they need to stay at home with the flu.
5) If you have questions about academic or other issues, or need further assistance, contact Asst. Dean Lisa.brandes@yale.edu, 432-8895

A majority of our graduate students live off-campus in private apartments with only themselves or shared with a few people. If you live off-campus or in graduate apartments or University property (elm campus) apartments:

1) Read the G&P flu guide http://www.yale.edu/secretary/emergency/documents/StudentGuideforGandP.pdf
2) If you have flu-like symptoms, you should stay in your apartment or room until your fever and symptoms subside. You can take reasonable precautions, as noted in the guide above, to help limit transmission of the flu virus to any others in your apartment.
3) Notify Asst. Dean Lisa.brandes@yale.edu (432-8895) and inform her if you need assistance with academic or other concerns.

A smaller proportion of our graduate students live in on-campus graduate housing with shared suites and common facilities where the risk of flu virus spreading is much higher. If you live on-campus in graduate dormitories:

1) Read the On Campus G&P information online http://www.yale.edu/secretary/emergency/swineflu.html
2) Contact graduate housing at grad.dorms@yale.edu or 432-2167 to let them know that you have flu-like symptoms. A member of the grad housing care team will contact you as needed with information and assistance.

Most grad dorms have common but small kitchens, and several have required dining hall meal plans. To allow dorm residents with the flu to stay isolated in their rooms, the care team will arrange for delivery of meals from HGS dining hall. If you live in graduate housing but are not on a meal plan you may order meals while you are confined to your room. You will be charged a modest fee for meals prepared in the dining hall; the charges will appear on your student account. If needed, the Graduate School will make hardship funding available to cover the cost of these meals.

Again, and of course, we hope no one gets sick. But we want everyone to be as prepared as possible if you do. Above all, we want you to tell us if you have the flu and if you need assistance--in the ways outlined above--so we and others can offer advice and help that will be useful to you and, as a result, to our community.