Current Students
H1N1 Flu Information
Resources
To the GW Law Community:
There is concern we will experience a wide outbreak of the flu, especially H1N1 flu, this Fall. The period from Sept 15 to Oct 15 is the prime time for such an occurrence. With a vaccine not available until after prime flu season, and under advisement from the University and Center for Disease Control, it is prudent to ensure you are aware of the symptoms of the flu virus, reporting requirements, law school plan, and preventative measures that are underway to safeguard health.
The H1N1 pandemic is currently rated by the CDC at level 6 (highest) and has a virulence level of 2 (highest is 4). The average age of the H1N1 patient is 20. The CDC has promulgated guidance that recognizes the need to balance risks of illness among faculty, students, and staff. This guidance recommends that faculty, students, and staff with influenza symptoms (fever, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting) should stay at home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever reducing medications (any medicine containing ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Most patients have experienced mild to moderate cases, do not require medical care, and have recovered within seven days. Please familiarize yourself with the University influenza plan and prevention advice.
While we do recommend self-isolation, we cannot quarantine individuals or groups. To safeguard health, students must not come to the Law School if they experience a fever or influenza symptoms. Accordingly, students must immediately report their condition to the Office of Student Affairs at 202.994.8320 or by [email].
There has always been a spirit of camaraderie among law students. Law students are by nature, collaborative; we have traditionally shared notes, worked in study groups, and been supportive of each other. In addition to these resources to cover material from classes missed due to illness, our initial plan will be to record classes in accordance with current policy and to provide the recordings to absent students through the GW Law Portal.
To request class recordings due to influenza please email Student Affairs. Please provide your detailed class schedule and include the names of your professors and the assigned classrooms. Student Affairs will contact your professors, and with their approval, will begin the recording process. If video recording requests become too great for the Media Center to handle, faculty members will be asked to record their own classes through use of handheld digital recorders. These recorders will enable faculty to record lectures in the classroom (or at home) and easily upload them as part of their course materials to the Portal or TWEN. All faculty members, including adjunct faculty members, have been encouraged to use their course pages on the Law School Portal or TWEN. These pages should include detailed syllabi with reading assignments, professor contact information, PowerPoint briefs, and uploading of reading materials not in the casebook.
We can do our part to prevent or limit an outbreak of the flu by practicing good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and by staying home if we experience influenza symptoms. Door stops have been ordered to limit mass touching of doors, hand sanitizers have been placed in the building, additional flu warning signage is forthcoming, and other measures will be taken to increase awareness and safeguard health. We will take all measures necessary to protect the Law School population. Please check this web page regularly for updates as they occur.
We appreciate your cooperation and support.