Module 1c: Spread throughout the Campus Community

By September 22, H7N9 influenza activity is widespread in ten states, including [insert state name]. 

Nationally, the H7N9 case fatality proportion is around five percent, although it is possible milder cases are going unreported. 

Our university has already experienced its first deaths: 

• On September 10, the international student with chronic asthma suffered acute respiratory distress and passed away during transportation to a hospital. 
• On September 15, a popular 63-year-old professor passed away in his home. He had begun canceling his classes on September 11. 

Our university health services center estimates it has seen fewer than 100 probable or confirmed cases of influenza so far. Approximately 75 required hospitalization. Milder cases may be staying away to avoid contact with more severely ill patients. Many students who are not sick have contacted health services about obtaining masks and antiviral medication. Parents are also contacting our university about masks and antivirals. 

Parents and students are also complaining about isolation being ineffective: 

• One student refused to leave the library despite coughing, as she said she needed to study. 
• A student in off-campus housing has posted on social media that when friends stopped delivering food, he felt he had to go out into the community, even while symptomatic. 

Deans and supervisors estimate faculty and staff absenteeism to be about ten percent overall.

A prominent business man and local school board member makes a statement in a local school board meeting that "these damn asians from China will be the death of all of us."

1. What information do you release, and to whom, how, and with what goals do you release it? 
2. Specifically, consider the following questions: 
   1. What information do you release regarding the first university deaths?  
   2. How do you deal with negative attitudes expressed by the surrounding community and the general public toward international students at our university?
   3. How do you deal with compaints about our universty's ability to deal with influenza?
   4. How does your messaging about the situation and your delivery mechanisms differ for:
      1. Students? 
      2. Faculty and staff? 
      3. Parents (including parents of international students)? 
      4. The surrounding community and the general public?