Dear parents & families,
We take the health and safety of our students very seriously and want to make sure you stay well informed. I am writing to share a message that Dr. Cheri LeBlanc, Executive Director of WashU’s Habif Health & Wellness Center, sent to the WashU community this afternoon about an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei, Province, China. At present, there are no cases at Washington University in St. Louis. our Health Center providers are on high alert and working closely with our Infectious Disease colleagues at the Medical School as well as our local Public Health Department.
All members of our campus community are reminded to take precautions (frequent handwashing, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid touching your eyes) to prevent spread of infectious disease. The precautions will help reduce your risk of many respiratory infections including influenza which is widespread across the nation.
If you have specific questions about the health safety of your student that are not addressed in the email, please feel free to contact my office of our Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Support and Wellness, Dr. Kirk Dougher, at k.dougher@wustl.edu.
We hope your students are able to stay healthy, happy, and academically excited through the spring semester.
Sincerely,
Lori. S. White
January 24, 2020
2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan China
Dear Campus Community:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in hundreds of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside of Wuhan, with additional cases being identified in a growing number of countries internationally including the United States.
At present, there are no cases at Washington University in St. Louis, but we want to update the community on this emerging global health concern.
There is much more to learn about how the 2019-nCoV virus spreads, severity of associated illness, and other features of the virus. Investigations are ongoing. While the CDC considers this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time. Nevertheless, our Emergency Management Team is taking proactive preparedness precautions.
All members of our campus community are reminded to take precautions (frequent handwashing, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid touching your eyes) to prevent spread of infectious disease. The precautions will help reduce your risk of many respiratory infections including influenza which is widespread across the nation.
Habif Health and Wellness Center advises students who recently traveled from Wuhan or affected areas in the past 14 days or have had close contact with someone suspected of having an infection with the novel coronavirus to watch for flu-like symptoms (fever and respiratory symptoms such as a cough or difficulty breathing) and if experiencing symptoms, to call our office immediately or call Barnes-Jewish Hospital Emergency Room if we are closed before seeking care.
Faculty and staff members with this travel history and who experience symptoms should contact their primary care providers to discuss symptoms and travel history. If you are not experiencing symptoms, there is no need to seek care at this time.
Our Health Center providers are on high alert and working closely with our Infectious Disease colleagues at the Medical School as well as our local Public Health Department. We are following CDC guidelines for identifying and managing patients of concern.
We, along with our EMS colleagues, are closely monitoring this situation as it unfolds and will update the campus via email and the Habif Health and Wellness Center website: students.wustl.edu/habif-health-wellness-center/.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at cleblanc@wustl.edu.
Sincerely,
Cheri LeBlanc, MD
Executive Director, Habif Health and Wellness Center
Assistant Professor,
Department of Medicine
Washington University in St. Louis