Avian and Pandemic Flu - College Action Plan

The UK’s planning for pandemic response measures envisages five separate phases or alert levels:

  • Alert Level 0 - the normal everyday alert state when the threat of pandemic flu is low
  • Alert Level 1 - cases only outside the UK (in a country or countries with or without extensive UK travel/trade links).
  • Alert Level 2 - new virus isolated in the UK
  • Alert Level 3 - outbreak in the UK.
  • Alert Level 4 - widespread activity across the UK.

Alert Level 0

Alert Level
Situation
Action
Comments
0 Assessment of risk Regular assessments of the international situation in respect of the flu threat will be provided to the University Emergency Management Team and Advisory Group on Communicable Diseases by the Pandemic Flu Liaison Team (membership at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/health/flu/ilt.html )
  • The Pandemic Flu Liaison Team will act as the focus for all information with regard to the threat of pandemic flu
0 Development of Plans University and Colleges Pandemic Flu Liaison Team to meet periodically, according to the prevailing threat state and the plan. Concurrently, the recovery options for business continuity should be reviewed and updated
  • College plans are developed to include:
    • Admissions, including processing of applications, interviews, policies for accepting students who may not have been able to sit exams.
    • Teaching provision, including non-contact methods and covering for staff absences.
    • Student progression and a\wards.
    • Examinations.
    • Marketing and recruitment, including Open Days.
  • Require all students to register with a GP in Cambridge
  • Confirm availability of soap solutions and regular clearance of waste towels.
  • Cleaning staff to be reminded of need for strict personal hygiene routine after coming into contact with communal objects/surfaces
  • Check contingency plans of all external service providers eg caterers.
0 Practising the plan The Pandemic Liaison Team should conduct table-top exercises with an external consultant to assess the efficacy of the plans and review the plans in the light of their experiences  
0 Communications The Office of Communications will maintain and coordinate information via the University’s Health website at: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/health/flu/ The Colleges’ Pandemic Flu Liaison Senior Tutor and the Colleges’ Pandemic Flu Liaison Nurse will ensure dissemination of updates to Colleges  
0 Travel Warnings Travel warnings should be issued if required by the advice of appropriate agencies. Target groups for travel warnings include: those travelling on College business, non-UK nationals travelling between home and College, University field teams and staff engaged on overseas projects or research  

Alert Level 1

Alert Level
Situation
Action
Comments
1. Outbreaks of contagious flu reported overseas Persons coming from affected areas overseas (e.g. visiting academics) who have been in contact with a known or suspected case of influenza or with infected poultry will be asked to make this known and, with advice, may be asked to quarantine themselves in their own rooms for seven days.
  • Affected persons will be permitted to come out of quarantine if no symptoms appear within the 7-day period.
1. Outbreaks of contagious flu reported overseas Review where research students are undertaking fieldwork and withdraw them, if necessary
  • Decision to be taken jointly by College and University department as appropriate
 
1. Increased risk of future outbreak of Pandemic Flu College officers and staff to review plans for containing spread of flu within their college and for dealing with problems that may arise
  • College plans to be reviewed to include:
    • Admissions, including processing of applications, interviews, policies for accepting students who may not have been able to sit exams.
    • Teaching provision, including non-contact methods and covering for staff absences.
    • Student progression and a\wards.
    • Examinations.
    • Marketing and recruitment, including Open Days.
  • Check that all students have registered with a GP in Cambridge
  • Confirm availability of soap solutions and regular clearance of waste towels.
  • Cleaning staff to be reminded of need for strict personal hygiene routine after coming into contact with communal objects/surfaces.

Alert Level 2

Alert Level
Situation
Action
Comments
2. Outbreaks of contagious flu reported elsewhere in UK Consider cancelling Open Days and conference activity, particularly if planned visitors are from or nearby infected areas (Health Services to advise on whereabouts of infected areas)
  • College plans to be reviewed and updated, as necessary
  • Advice from the Health Protection Agency on Swine Flu is that business should continue as normal but that any individual with flu-like symptoms should follow the general guidance and limit contact wherever possible.
  • Ensure that information on self-care is available for patients and carers – check with University website and with College Nurse

Alert Level 3

Alert Level
Situation
Action
Comments
3. Students and staff start to exhibit flu symptoms Students with flu symptoms to be confined to their rooms pending confirmation of infection
  • Students to be advised to contact Porters Lodge by email or phone to advise them of their confinement. Porters will need pro forma, supplied by Colleges’ Pandemic Flu Liaison College Nurse, at this point to enable them to gather information.
  • Porters Lodge to inform Senior Tutor and College Nurse about confinement cases.
3. Students and staff start to exhibit flu symptoms Staff members with flu-like symptoms to be ordered to return/stay at home until they have recovered fully.
  • Consider permitting staff to work from home where possible.
  • Ensure that information on self-care is available for patients and carers – check with University website and with College Nurse.
3. Students and staff start to exhibit flu symptoms Institute feeding plans for confined students
  • Consider whether meals should be delivered to student rooms from kitchens or whether students should be required to self-cater.
  • Consider how students should acquire foodstuffs and how they should pay for them.
3. Students and staff start to exhibit flu symptoms Consider closure of communal areas, such as college bar and TV rooms
  • If continued opening of communal areas considered essential, consider introducing additional cleaning measures to minimise spread of bacteria.
3. Students and staff start to exhibit flu symptoms Increase disinfection of shared toilets, bathrooms and kitchens.
  • Availability of soap solutions and clearance of waste towels essential.
  • Cleaning staff to be reminded of need for strict personal hygiene routine after coming into contact with communal objects/surfaces.
3. Students and staff start to exhibit flu symptoms Disinfection of library/shared computer facilities/public telephones.
  • Ensure availability of antibacterial wipes for desks, keyboards and other hard surfaces and encourage students to use them and dispose of them properly.
3. Increased concern amongst students and staff. Colleges’ Pandemic Flu Liaison Senior Tutor and Colleges’ Pandemic Flu Liaison Nurse to disseminate information between Colleges. Senior Tutor/College Nurse to ensure that students and staff are fully informed of health risks and prophylactic measures.
  • All advice to be consistent with current Health Service advice. University Occupational Health Service will act as focal point for health advice.
3. Cancellation of conference activity Bursars to review College business plans and budgets in the light of the reduced revenue
  • Bursars to also consider the effect of loss of college fees on account of delayed or reduced student intakes.
3/4. Students in confinement in own rooms Senior Tutor/College Nurse to arrange for confined students to be visited periodically (at least daily) by individuals competent to assess their condition
  • Students to be advised not to re-emerge until cleared to do so by College Nurse or other responsible authority.
  • Health visitors to be provided with appropriate PPE, as advised by Health Services.

Alert Level 4

Alert Level
Situation
Action
Comments
3/4. Students in confinement in own rooms Senior Tutor/College Nurse to arrange for confined students to be visited periodically (at least daily) by individuals competent to assess their condition
  • Students to be advised not to re-emerge until cleared to do so by College Nurse or other responsible authority.
  • Health visitors to be provided with appropriate PPE, as advised by Health Services.
4. Students’ condition deteriorates If hospitalisation necessary, contact Ambulance Services
  • Do not send students to hospital by taxi or public transport, unless Health Services advise it is safe to do so.
4. Students’ condition deteriorates Consider sending sick students home
  • Advise parents to collect their son/daughter and avoid using public transport if at all possible.
4. Students unable to return home Consider whether additional measures are needed to enable students to maintain contact with family and friends at home.
Review plans for long-term support of students 		 
4. Panic buying leads to food shortages in shops Anticipate that demand for meals in college will increase
  • Consider extending meal times to cope with increased numbers of diners.
  • Review food storage arrangements, availability of bulk food supplies and staffing arrangements.
4. General absenteeism leads to disruption of fuel supplies Review plans for conservation of fuel stocks.
  • Move students to central location where possible and turn off redundant boilers.
  • Close down non-essential parts of College to conserve fuel.
4. City Council services affected by staff shortages; waste collection services reduced Consider supplementing residual City Council waste collection services with own deliveries of waste to Council tips.  
4. Staff shortages caused by sickness absenteeism Consider re-assigning staff members to critical areas, eg, Porters Lodge.
  • May need to supplement normal complement of Porters during this period to cope with extra demands