Lone Star College System Community,
Public health professionals are monitoring the swine flu outbreak closely. The World Health Organization (WHO) has elevated the alert level from Phase 3 to Phase 4 because of concerns over the outbreak. A Phase 4 alert indicates that human-to-human transmission of the swine flu has been verified and is able to cause community-level outbreaks. This significantly increases the risk of a pandemic. Federal, state, and regional agencies and health officials are monitoring the swine flu threat. Three cases have been confirmed in Texas, none in the greater Houston area to date.
To avoid contracting this type of influenza there are everyday actions we can take to stay healthy:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you should become ill, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health agencies recommend that you contact your healthcare provider, stay home from work or school, and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Visit the links below to learn more about a few of our public health partners.
Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services
http://www.hcphes.org/
Texas Department of State Health Services
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/
LSCS will continue to monitor the situation, work with our community partners, and continue to update our website at http://www.lonestar.edu/ as more information becomes available.
We appreciate your support in keeping our community informed.
Be Prepared...Stay Safe!
Dr. Denise Walker
Chief Security Officer