The H1N1 Flu Outbreak

From light-hearted cartoonists to overzealous alarmists, people everywhere have been concerned about the swine flu, or the H1N1flu in more politically correct terminology, that started in Mexico. Although Palomar has had no probable or confirmed cases of the flu so far, Mission Hills High School a few miles east of our main campus was closed by authorities on Friday due to one probable case.

While I hope Palomar won't be hit with another campus closure (remember the wild fires and the bomb threats?), we all need to be prepared if the mandate does arrive. Palomar administration will most likely issue some specific guidance soon, but here are a couple tips I would like to share now:

• Decide what you will take from your office during a typical 6-hour window to vacate the campus if the closure order is given. You will need to ensure that you can work from home for five to seven days.
• Consider using available technology as alternatives to physically coming to school to work. Such technologies include Blackboard, email, CCC Confer, and Palomar web page, all of which will remain on during a possible campus closure.

For now, everyone should continue with their normal work schedule but keep checking Palomar's email inbox as well as Palomar's main home page for the latest update. When you click on "Click here for more information" on Palomar's home page, you will be taken to Palomar Health Services' home page, which also listed several resource/information links.

In class, it might be a good idea to have students investigate and prepare resources like this one. The students will then be able to share the resources with their family. They will also be able to remain vigilant but not freak out.