Regarding Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Action Plan Guidelines (tentative)

Regarding Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Action Plan Guidelines (tentative)

　In response to cases of human swine influenza confirmed in Mexico, the United States and other counties including Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened, at 11 p.m. on April 27 (Japan time), an emergency meeting of influenza experts, and decided to raise its pandemic alert level to Phase 4. In the evening of April 29, the alert level was raised to Phase 5 following confirmation of further cases of swine flu. 
　Kyushu University has formulated its Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Action Plan Guidelines to respond to an influenza pandemic. In future, the University will take all necessary and appropriate measures including class cancellations, in accordance with the Action Plan Guidelines.
　When a pandemic influenza case is confirmed anywhere in Japan outside Fukuoka Prefecture and the Kyushu University Pandemic Influenza Crisis Management Headquarters (“Crisis Management Headquarters”) deems it necessary to cancel classes, all classes will be cancelled for about two weeks and all students will be ordered to remain at home. (Class cancellation: All lectures and laboratory training/experiments as well as circle and volunteer activities will be cancelled. All commercial facilities on campus will be closed. Lifelines will maintain normal functions. Only experiments that could be affected by interruption will be allowed to continue.)
　Furthermore, when a pandemic influenza case is confirmed in Fukuoka Prefecture or when influenza reaches epidemic proportions, the Crisis Management Headquarters will decide to close the University. Once the decision is made to close the University, all students, faculty and staff will be required to remain at home. (University closure: Almost all functions and activities of the University will be shut down, except breeding of experimental animals—either following the administrative advice or voluntarily. Entry to the campus will be prohibited, as a rule. Only the minimum number of staff required for campus management will be allowed entry.)
　Information on the status of operations (class cancellation and University closure), as well as measures to be taken at each stage will be emailed to all students and faculty/staff (emails will be sent via the education information system to students and via the simultaneous mail delivery system to faculty and staff). Such information will also be posted on the Kyushu University website; all students and faculty/staff are advised to check the following website pages to obtain up-to-date information.
 http://www.ihs.kyushu-u.ac.jp/PandemicFlu/PandemicFlu.html
 http://www.ihs.kyushu-u.ac.jp/PandemicFlu/pdf/Teachers.pdf

　If a pandemic influenza outbreak occurs or human-to-human transmission is confirmed in Japan, Kyushu University will promptly take appropriate measures, including lecture cancellations, to prevent group infection and health problems.
　All necessary information will be posted on the Kyushu University website; be sure to constantly check the University’s website to keep up with the latest news and information. You should also carefully read the Pandemic Influenza Prevention Manual, which has already been distributed to you. If you have concerns or questions regarding your health in relation to pandemic influenza, please refer to the Institute of Health Science website.
　

　[The Institute of Health Science]
　http://www.ihs.kyushu-u.ac.jp/
　[Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Action Plan Guidelines (provisional)]
　http://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/influenza/taiko.pdf