SWINE FLU UPDATE

Dear North Park UMin Global Partnership Participants and Families,

The safety and health of North Park students is a number 1 concern for the university. This is the case while students are on campus as well as when they travel abroad.

As of today, the countries we are traveling to with Global Partnership trips this summer have no known cases of swine flu reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, we are heeding the advisement of the WHO as follows:

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.

There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

We have protocols for illness and emergency medical situations that are followed on all Global Partnership trips. This includes instruction for the trip advisor (traveling with the students) to contact the North Park supervisor with any concern. The North Park supervisor would then call the emergency contact the student has provided. Clinics and hospitals have been identified in the areas where our students are traveling.

Please use our blog or UMin Emergency Phone number for communication during the weeks of your student's trip.
UMin Emergency Number: 1-773-649-8914


Influenza A(H1N1) - update 17 http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/


6 May 2009 -- As of 06:00 GMT, 6 May 2009, 22 countries have officially reported 1516 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 822 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths. The United States has reported 403 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (165), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (9), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (5), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (2), Spain (57), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (27).

It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.

There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.