J&W student services

Johnson & Wales University Statement on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

The University has been carefully monitoring the situation regarding recent reports of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). University officials have been in contact with public health agencies and have determined that there is no health emergency on any of our campus'. Nonetheless, we encourage students, faculty and staff to be aware of the situation by reviewing the information below and remaining alert to future University announcements regarding SARS. University policy will be evolving in response to advisories from health authorities.

SARS Health Advisory A health alert has been issued about SARS by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cases have been linked to travel to mainland China; Hong Kong; Singapore; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Toronto, Canada. The University has developed this policy to provide information and instructions for those who have concerns about the disease.

Precautionary Measures
• Johnson & Wales faculty and staff are hereby restricted from travel to an affected area on University business unless permission to travel is given by your campus president. Affected areas are those areas for which the U.S. Department of State, the Center for Disease Control and/or the World Health Organization has issued travel advisories related to SARS. (Please refer to www.travel.state.gov for up-to-date travel advisories.)
• Students, faculty and staff are asked to participate in a voluntary ban on travel to these affected areas.
• If you must travel we ask that you take extreme precaution to protect your health and report such travel to University Health Services upon your return. In addition, we strongly recommend that you plan to spend at least 10 days in a non-affected region before returning to your campus and utilizing University facilities.
• Travelers to affected regions should monitor their health carefully for 10 days after leaving the affected region and if they experience any of the symptoms below should immediately seek assistance from their health care provider. Students should contact the Health Services office.
• International students are advised that developing travel restrictions at points of departure, as well as ports of entry to the U.S. and other countries due to health concerns, may delay their return to the United States and impact their study plan. Travelers should research travel restrictions at their destinations carefully. No such travel restriction is in place or anticipated at U.S. ports of entry at this time; however, SARS related policies are subject to change at short notice.

Who is affected? The case criteria for persons with SARS include the following two scenarios, with an onset of symptoms since February 1, 2003:

• Travel within 10 days of onset of symptoms to mainland China; Hong Kong; Singapore; Hanoi, Vietnam; or Toronto, Canada, and
• Fever at or above 38°C or 100.4°F, and
• Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing

• Persons who have cared for, lived with or had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS within 10 days of the onset of the symptoms, and
• Fever at or above 38°C or 100.4°F, and
• Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing.

If you think you have had exposure to SARS and are concerned that you might have SARS:
• Monitor your health. If you do not have symptoms within 10 days of travel to the designated regions of risk or close contact with someone who has traveled to these regions, there is no reason to be concerned about SARS.
• Students who are experiencing any of the above symptoms should be evaluated immediately by a health care professional. Students who have traveled within the past 10 days to mainland China; Hong Kong; Singapore; or Hanoi, Vietnam, should notify their health care professional of those travels.
• Faculty and staff members who meet the above travel or exposure criteria and are experiencing the above symptoms should contact their personal physician.

Johnson & Wales University FAQ's
Frequently asked questions about Johnson & Wales University's response to and prevention of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) on campus:

How is the University working to reduce the risk of SARS? Each campus' Health Services office is working closely with their local health department and closely following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We are monitoring developments and informing students about SARS and how to treat and prevent it.

What can individuals do to prevent transmission of colds, flus or other infectious diseases? Keep your immune system strong with regular exercise, vitamin rich foods, sufficient sleep and plenty of fluids. Wash hands frequently. Avoid sharing utensils, water bottles, towels, or bedding without first washing these items with soap and hot water. Clean surfaces soiled with body fluids with a household disinfectant. Use gloves while cleaning.

What is the University's plan in the event that SARS cases are diagnosed? Any diagnosed cases of SARS will be managed under the guidance of your state's Department of Health. Symptomatic students, faculty and staff with recent travel to the regions will be assisted in meeting quarantine guidelines.

What should students do if they have a roommate or classmate who has traveled internationally? What should faculty and staff do if they have a student who has traveled internationally? Please note that exposure to someone who is from or has traveled to the designated areas does not necessarily put a person at risk for SARS. According to the CDC, persons exposed to SARS are not considered infectious until the onset of symptoms. If your roommate, classmate or student has traveled to one of the designated areas but is not ill, there is no need to be concerned.

I have just returned from travel to one of the areas noted above. Can I return to work/study on campus? The University recommends that students, faculty and staff who have chosen to travel to designated regions stay in an unaffected region 10 days prior to returning to campus. All returning travelers are asked to monitor themselves for 10 days following their return for any of the symptoms noted above and if such symptoms occur to contact your health care provider immediately. Students should contact University Health Services immediately. It is advisable to phone the health care provider and inform them of your symptoms so they can advise you appropriately regarding your treatment in their facilities.

My department has invited an individual from one of the geographic areas on the list to visit the University. Should we withdraw the invitation? No, but you should advise the individual to review his/her country's travel advisories and to monitor their health for any of the related symptoms. Individuals should also be advised that if related symptoms appear during their visit, they might be required to remain in isolation as required by public health department officials.

Resources
For updated information, including frequently asked questions on SARS, visit the CDC website.

If you are planning to travel, recommendations regarding the outbreak of SARS can be found on CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) websites.

State department of health information is available for:
Rhode Island
Virginia
Florida
Colorado