Oct. 14, 2009 

Message from the President regarding H1N1

To the UTMB Community,

As an academic health center, UTMB prepares for each and every flu season. This year, with the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (also called “swine flu”), UTMB has taken appropriate steps to handle workplace absences, increased patient volumes and other results of an active flu season.

The university’s Swine Flu Committee, which includes experts from the UTMB Health System, Healthcare Epidemiology and Human Resources, meets weekly to monitor the situation and respond to developments, based on the best medical evidence. You can learn more about the group’s current recommendations regarding seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines, as well as human resources procedures related to flu-related absences, at utmbhealthcare.org. This site also offers information on groups at high risk for infection with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The information will be updated as needed to help keep the UTMB community and those we serve healthy.

There is much information—and misinformation—about the flu in the media. You can best protect your health, and that of your family, friends, co-workers and patients, by following recommendations from credible sources, including the utmbhealthcare.org flu page, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.flu.gov) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (www.dshs.state.tx.us/txflu/) .

This may be a challenging flu season, but I am confident in saying that H1N1 is no match for the dedication and resilience of the UTMB community. Stay informed and be well.

Sincerely,

Dr. David L. Callender
President