To the Ohio University Campus Community:
Ohio University officials are closely monitoring the evolving H1N1 influenza A outbreak through daily updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health information sources.
The university has already implemented, or is in the process of implementing, CDC recommendations for institutions of higher education in response to the virus. These measures include working with our student health center to track and report influenza-like illness to the county health department and reviewing university plans for responding to a public health emergency to ensure they are up-to-date.
We also continue to regularly meet and communicate internally and with local agencies to coordinate response protocols and ensure that plans can be implemented quickly as information and conditions warrant.­
At all times, the safety of students, faculty and staff remains our top priority. We believe communication to you is an essential part of our response strategy and the university will use Outlook and the Emergency Information link from the university home page as our primary communication channels.
We understand the range of emotions this disease outbreak is creating and want to encourage you to be well informed of the risks of infection and the steps you can take to manage them.  We believe the most reliable information -- including frequently asked questions about H1N1 --  is available from two sources:  
For information about H1N1 in Ohio, go to the Web site of the Ohio Department of Health:  http://www.odh.ohio.gov/
Information about U.S. and global H1N1 is best found at the CDC Web site:  http://www.cdc.gov/
I want to again emphasize the most important prevention and illness tips here for your information:

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Scientists estimate that people are not washing their hands often or well enough and may transmit up to 80 percent of all infections by their hands. For a video on effective hand-washing tips, click here.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
Stay home if you get sick with influenza and see your doctor. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you have a concern about exposure or experience flu-like symptoms -- including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue -- you should see a medical provider immediately. For information on Ohio University's Student Health Service (SHS) hours, visit www.ohio.edu/hudson/shs/.
Students who experience symptoms outside of SHS hours should visit the O'Bleness Memorial Hospital emergency room.
Sincerely,
David Hopka, Assistant Vice President
Safety and Risk Management