COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAK

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAK

Emergency actions/responses regarding infectious/communicable diseases rely on prevention, identification, containment and control strategies.

1. ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The Torrey Health Center’s mission is to provide health services to all St. Lawrence University students. Staff and faculty are not eligible for treatment or care from Torrey Health Center; therefore, they must seek medical assistance from off-campus medical providers.

2. PREVENTION

All University personnel should consider the following prevention strategies: 

• Basic hygiene measures, like frequent hand washing or use of an alcohol-based hand gel, especially after using the restroom, should always be practiced.
  • If you are sick, do not go to work or class and minimize your contact with others. Seek appropriate medical intervention early on to protect both yourself and others around you.
  • If you exhibit signs of respiratory infection, practice cough etiquette. This means covering your mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing and using tissues to contain respiratory secretions (followed by tissue disposal in a waste basket and hand washing).
• IDENTIFICATION, CONTAINMENT AND CONTROL
• Employees who are sick should stay away from work and seek diagnosis/treatment through their medical healthcare provider. Students who are sick should report their condition to the Torrey Health Center for diagnosis/evaluation. Any immediately threatening health condition (like chest pains, acutely severe headaches, etc.), should be reported to Safety & Security at (315) 229-5555) for first aid assessment and potential ambulatory transportation to a local hospital or urgent care facility. Outbreaks of acutely infectious/communicable diseases will be assessed by the Director of the Torrey Health Center, in accordance with local, state and federal health guidelines, and under the direction of the Health Center Director and/or the Department of Health. While specific actions and responses St. Lawrence University will take once such a disease has been identified tend to be disease-specific, three different containment and control strategies will be followed:
  • Actions involving sick/symptomatic persons include diagnostic testing, treatment, isolation, ambulatory transportation to a local hospital/urgent care facility and disease reporting through public health authorities/channels.
    • Actions involving those who have been in contact with sick/symptomatic people include diagnostic testing, medical monitoring/counseling and treatment/isolation/ambulatory transportation as needed.
    • Actions involving the greater St. Lawrence University community (those not in direct contact with sick/symptomatic persons) include information sharing as to the nature of the disease outbreak, recommended preventative actions, medical monitoring/counseling, additional cleaning and disinfection of public spaces as needed.
  • Outbreaks of less acute infectious/communicable diseases (like pandemic influenza) will principally be managed in accordance with local, state and federal health guidelines. This may result in the temporary suspension of all St. Lawrence University functions and activities.
  • While it is highly unlikely that building evacuations would occur following an outbreak of infectious/communicable diseases, it is critical for all employees/students to stay informed as an emergency unfolds. Safety & Security and Health Center staff will disseminate critical information as it becomes available to safeguard the greater St. Lawrence University community.

Do not hesitate to contact Safety & Security if you need assistance.

• Emergency assistance (315) 229-5555, x5555 or dial 911.
  • For non-emergency assistance dial (315) 229-5554.