WHO Pandemic Alert Level Raised to 5

The World Health Organization has raised its Pandemic Alert Level to 5, one step below a full-blown pandemic. Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

IUPUI is working very hard on its pandemic planning, and the IUPUI Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated.

The following website is the Emergency Preparedness website for the entire IU system:  http://www.indianauniversity.info/. It has a great deal of useful and up-to-date information. You can link to each specific campus emergency preparedness website on the right.

Indiana University has also suspended all summer study programs in Mexico. For more information please visit this link: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/10745.html

You can find flyers that you can download on the IUPUI Emergency Preparedness website at http://www.iupui.edu/~prepared/ .  Please download, print and distribute them widely.

State officials have set up a toll-free hotline for questions on Influenza A (H1N1). The number is 877-826-0011 and will be open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Marion County's hotline is (317) 221-3366, and it is operational 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Monday through Friday. 

More guidance will be forthcoming. In the meantime, be sure to keep washing hands, avoid shaking hands, and cough into your sleeve. Go to the student Health Services at IUPUI or your family physician if you feel very ill.