Pulaski Technical College: two year community college in central Arkansas

Current News

Community health advisory **UPDATE**
5/8/2009

Paul Halverson, State Health Officer and Director of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), said today that the state's first five cases of H1N1 influenza A virus (swine flu) have been confirmed--four cases in Pulaski County and one case in Lawrence County. The samples were tested and confirmed by the public health laboratory at ADH.

Illness has occurred in active duty service members from other states who are training at Camp Robinson. Service officials have notified other co-workers, family and friends who may have been in close contact with the patients.

School closure is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of new influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to function.

To read the announcement in its entirety, click here.

The spread of influenza A virus H1N1 has been well publicized in the media. Pulaski Technical College is dedicated to a pro-active approach toward the mitigation of any potential threat. College administration will keep a close eye on the situation and take appropriate measures to protect the well-being of the campus community.

The following links may be very informative:

http://www.healthyarkansas.com/
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/college-alert.htm

There are many common-sense precautions people can take to stay healthy:

Take common sense steps to limit the spread of germs. Make good hygiene a habit.
Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water or anti-bacterial wash.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Put used tissues in a waste basket.
Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
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 get sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Keep on hand a hygiene kit that includes the following items:

Anti-microbial alcohol wipes (in addition to antiseptic wipes in First Aid Kit)
Non-latex gloves, in addition to those in first aid kit (readily available at paint supply and hardware stores)
Soapless/waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Face masks (available at drug or hardware stores)