For Special Groups

All members of the Cornell community should now be familiar with the general H1N1 message sent via-email to the Cornell community (August 2009). However, we recognize that certain members of our community may have special issues and concerns:

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Parents

Parents and guardians may be reading campus flu information with unique concern and worry. The death of a Cornell undergrad (September 11) due to complications related to influenza may prompt a new level of anxiety. Please access our website for additional flu information and perspective, as well as resources to support the emotional well-being of your student.

If you have specific concerns about your student, please direct those concerns to the Cornell Flu Line: 607 255-0101. Additionally, if your student is grieving the loss of their friend or classmate, encourage him or her to reach out for support. Both peer and professional support is available.

Please continue to encourage your student to follow our prevention advice: 

• It's important that they wash their hands thoroughly and often, sleep well, eat well, and manage stress.
• Make sure your student knows if he or she is at higher risk for flu complications. Remind them to call Gannett for a personal health consultation.
• Tell them to watch for Gannett posters and e-mails.
•  Pack a health kit for them (or instruct them to purchase one from the Gannett Pharmacy) in order to facilitate their self-care.
• If your student lives in a residence hall, learn what Cornell is recommending students do if they (or their roommates) get the flu.

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Athletes

The success of your team depends upon the health of its members. Read these winning health tips for athletes (pdf)

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International Students

You may have special concerns about travel to or from Cornell during this flu pandemic. And while flu self-care guidelines vary from one country to another, please become familiar with the recommendations we have in place in the U.S.

Additionally, you may be more comfortable reading information about the flu written in another language. Please consider these resources provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Residential Staff

You are in a unique position to help reduce the spread of the flu at Cornell. This fact sheet for Residential Staff at Cornell (pdf) includes information about setting the stage for a healthy living environment and includes suggestions for programming and resources.

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Students in Geneva

You have access to the same phone consultation, web, and print resources as do members of the Ithaca campus. Please call Gannett (255-5155) for consultation 24/7 if you develop flu symptoms in order to get recommendations for care. If you are at high risk for complications related to the flu, or if your flu symptoms worsen, please seek prompt medical attention in the Geneva area. Read more.

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Faculty and Staff

• Boost hygiene practices. Consider what happens in each of your work areas (classrooms, offices, common areas).
  • Post our flu prevention messages. 
  • Make hand sanitizers, tissues and trash cans available.
  • Evaluate the cleaning of shared equipment, work stations, etc. Contact Cornell Environmental Health and Saftety if you have specific questions about illness prevention in your workplace.
• Promote "social distancing" by posting this flyer (pdf) on classroom/lecture hall doors.
• Increase the flexibility of your course requirements and work demands: In order to reduce the spread of flu, it's essential that ill individuals (students, colleagues, employees, family members) STAY HOME and out of class, work etc. to recover.
• Be accommodating: Most people with the flu will not need to seek a medical appointment. In fact, they are encouraged to stay away from the health centers unless they have complicating symptoms. Do not pressure students to provide "verification of visits" or medical excuses, as this runs counter to the medical advice they are being given.
• Take care of yourself and those with whom you live and work. If you are a parent of a child in the Ithaca City School District, become familiar with the information they provided in their letter to families (September, 2009).