Critical A(H1N1) flu virus update

Campus updates will be provided here and at www.mvnu.edu/crisis when pertinent.

Dear campus community,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that a Mount Vernon Nazarene University staff member has tested positive for influenza A(H1N1) virus. This individual is recovering under physician care and will remain in quarantine per recommendations made by Knox County Health Department.

Over the next seven days, if you become aware of symptoms such as fever, cough, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, please stay home and consult your physician.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is working in collaboration with the CDC, Ohio Department of Health, and Knox County Health Department and following all appropriate guidelines. Facilities Services has been made aware of the situation and its staff is taking extra precautions in sanitizing facilities. They are utilizing a cleaning solution that is known by the CDC to kill the virus.

All campus functions and business operations will continue as scheduled. The University urges students, faculty, and staff remaining on campus during the summer to follow infection control steps. These preventive measures include:

* Frequent hand washing
* Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue if you have a cough or sneeze

Frequent use of waterless hand sanitizers is also recommended.

For more information on the influenza A (H1N1) virus, go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
View additional resources at www.mvnu.edu/crisis.

Thank you for your attention in this important matter. We will keep you posted by e-mail and online if any changes occur.

Dr. Dan Martin
President

Important MVNU message regarding swine flu

Dear campus community,

As many are aware, there have been cases of influenza A(H1N1)  virus, popularly known as swine flu,  detected throughout the United States. On April 26, the federal government declared a public health emergency after several cases of swine flu were confirmed in the United States. It is expected that more cases will be confirmed in the coming days. There has been one confirmed case in northern Ohio so far.

MVNU, along with public agencies across the country, has been preparing for the potential of a pandemic for a number of years. Although the swine flu has not been declared a pandemic, there are plans and procedures in place to ensure an effective response.

With that backdrop, we wanted to report to you today on the steps being taken at MVNU that we believe will help safeguard the health of all members of the University community.

• No cases of swine flu have been reported at MVNU. No changes to University operations or activities are currently planned as a result of swine flu.
• It is important to note that University leaders, health services and emergency management personnel have met to plan the University’s response now and in the future if circumstances change. MVNU will follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other appropriate agencies in the University’s response to this issue.
• The University is raising awareness to students, faculty, and staff through e-mail messages. Conversations are occurring in dorm/apartment meetings, and e-mail messages are going out to commuter students.
• The University will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and will keep the MVNU community informed. Any students, faculty, or staff planning foreign travel in the near future are advised to consult the International SOS web page on the issue.
• Facilities Services is making sure that extra cleaning is taking place on campus around high contact items such as door handles, computers, desks, bathrooms, offices, etc. Proper cleaning supplies are being used that will kill the bacteria.
• Human Resources sent out an e-mail on Thursday stating that public health officials strongly advise any individuals with a fever or any other symptoms to take preventive measure by staying home from work if they are sick.
• Student Development and other departments are receiving daily updates that will be shared with the campus community when any changes take place on campus, within our  county, our state, or when the need arises.
• We are asking faculty and staff who might be experiencing flu-like symptoms — a fever of 100 F (37.8 C) or higher, running nose, cough, respiratory congestion —to stay home from work or school to keep from making others ill.
• If a student, faculty, or staff member is infected with the swine flu, notification will be sent out campus-wide. If a student in a dorm or apartment is infected, that student will be asked to go home as soon as possible. If they are unable to go home immediately, the University is prepared to have a “quarantine” area available for the student. A thorough cleaning will be performed for any area that is infected.
• The Academic Affairs Office is requesting assistance from faculty to reinforce to students the good health practices that will minimize individual susceptibility to the H1N1 virus. Faculty will be given key teaching points.
• MVNU’s Health Services Coordinator and Vice President for Student Development will be attending an informational meeting at Knox County Health Department on Friday, May 1, to receive any up-to-date information for Knox County prior to the weekend.

Thank you for your attention in this important matter. We will keep you posted if any changes occur.

Dr. Dan Martin
President

RESOURCES:

Student Health Services
Denise Smith, Coordinator (740-397-9000, ext. 4632)

Crisis Response
Peggy Oldham, Coordinator (740-397-9000, ext. 4603)

MVNU’s Emergency Information Online
http://www.mvnu.edu/crisis
http://mvnucrisis.wordpress.com

U.S. Center for Disease Control

International SOS

Ohio Department of Health Information

WHO Pandemic Alert Levels Website

WHO Influenza A(H1N1) Highlights

Global Incident Map

Swine Flu Hits Several Campuses

In case of emergency…

This blog space is for Mount Vernon Nazarene University in the event of a crisis or emergency when University web servers may be down, a power loss interrupts service, or necessarily facilities become severely damaged. Information will be posted here in the event of such an occurrence. Please continue to check MVNU’s main web site to see if service is resumed.

For general crisis response and crisis communication information, please visit MVNU’s Safety/Emergency page. We are dedicated to communicating with University family, friends, and community in a timely and effective manner in the event of an emergency.

AGS Classes – Sept. 17

All AGS classes are in session for Wednesday, Sept. 17–including the Cincinnati location.

In an uncertain weather situation, AGS students should call (740) 397-9000, ext. 1650 for the latest class information about all AGS locations.

Web Site Update – Sept. 17, 9:00 a.m.

Some viewers may be seeing the actual www.mvnu.edu web site right now. Others may continue to see the MVNU crisis blog up to the next 24 hours. It will vary based on your Internet service provider. To be sure refresh your browser.

MVNU is currently working to switch redirects back to the main site. We appreciate your patience through this process. All viewers of www.mvnu.edu should see the main site no later than this time tomorrow.

If you are looking for MVNU Admissions please call us at 1-866-462-6868.

Thank you.

Power Update – Sept. 16, 11:50 a.m.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University now has electricity.

All classes on main campus will resume as scheduled on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
AGS classes at the Cincinnati site are canceled for tonight, Sept. 16.

Faculty and staff who are able should report to campus this afternoon.

The official MVNU web site will be up and running as soon as the connection to our Internet Service Provider is re-established. We currently don’t know when this will take place. We apologize for this inconvenience.

If you’re looking for MVNU Admissions please call 1-866-462-6868.

Update – Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m.

AGS classes will be held at all site locations this evening, including Newark and Grove City.

No AGS evening classes will be held at the Mount Vernon campus tonight. Stay tuned for information regarding the Cincinnati site.

THANK YOU to all staff and faculty, and especially to our amazing students, who have been working hard to clear away debris and make our campus beautiful and safe once again. Thank you to Pioneer College Caterers who have maintained food service to the campus, and to the Facilities Services staff for their countless hours of work and positive attitudes!

As always, you can listen to WNZR 90.9 FM for updates or call ext. 1600 or ext. 1650 (AGS).

Wind Storm Update – Sept. 15, 5:10 p.m.

Main campus will remain open for housing and feeding students, though students are allowed to go home with proper notification to residential staff.

Students: Please communicate your plans to your parents!

All day and evening classes for main campus are canceled for Tuesday, Sept. 16. Plans for Wednesday’s classes will be announced no later than 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Watch this site, listen to WNZR, or call ext. 1600 for updates.

Staff and Faculty: Offices are closed Tuesday, Sept. 16, at least until noon. If the power should come back on during the day, please plan to report by 1 p.m. Watch the web site, listen to WNZR, or call ext. 1600 for updates. We welcome you to come to campus to assist with clean up or to assist students.

AGS Students: The status of AGS classes for Tuesday, Sept. 16, will be announced no later than 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Watch the web site or call ext. 1650 for AGS-specific updates.

Wind Storm Update – Sept. 15, 2008

A majority of campus is out of power due to the heavy wind storm of Sept. 14.

Generators are supporting the cafeteria, Prince Student Union and WNZR. If you live in the Mount Vernon area you can listen to WNZR 90.9FM for updates.

Students are safe. Main campus has not experienced any heavy building damage. Some trees and limbs are down.

All traditional undergraduate students on main campus will be meeting with campus and residential leaders in the Prince Student Union at 4 p.m. today.

All daytime classes have been canceled and offices are closed for today Sep. 15 on main campus.

MVNYou Visit Day for prospective students has been canceled.

Evening AGS classes are in session at the following locations:
Lima
Polaris
Mansfield
Marion
Gahanna

Evening AGS classes are CANCELED tonight at the following locations:
Newark
Mount Vernon
Cincinnati/Sharonville

Pray for those involved in the storm and rescue efforts.

Further updates will be posted on www.mvnu.edu/crisis or on this blog. Students, faculty, and staff may dial ext. 1600 for updates. AGS students should call ext. 1650 for the latest info on class cancelation.