Guidance for Staff and Students

No one should travel if they are ill and if you have a flu-like illness you should :

• stay at home
• contact your GP or the Northern Ireland Influenza Helpline 0800 0514142
• advise the University Occupational Health Service of your illness 028 9097 5541 or occhealth@qub.ac.uk
• Stranmillis Staff must speak to either their line manager or Human Resources 028 9038 4436
• you should remain at home until you have completed 5 days of treatment and are symptom free

Typically this will mean that staff and students will be off work or absent from study for 7 days. This will support their own recovery and reduce the risk of spread to other staff and students within Stranmillis. Some staff and students may have increased individual risks or may be undertaking work or placements which may necessitate a longer absence; they should seek individual advice from the Occupational Health Service.

You should reduce your risk of contracting the illness by ensuring the cleanliness of work surfaces such as keyboards, mice, desktops etc. and follow the advice on using tissues to reduce the spread of the illness, as provided in the ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ campaign.

It is important that members of staff and students who develop symptoms of flu, follow the advice provided by the DHSSPS, in order to access the best treatment for themselves and limit the rate of spread of the virus. The advice to contact the Occupational Health Service will help us provide you with work or academic related advice.

FAQs and General Information (updated 3rd November)

Sources Of Information

Current Northern Ireland Health Advice

• nidirect 
• Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
• The Northern Ireland helpline number is 0800 0514 142

Current UK Health Advice

• Health Protection Agency
• Department of Health
  

Guidance on International Travel

• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
  

Criteria for Suspicion of Swine Flu

1. CLINICAL Fever greater than 38°C OR history of fever AND flu-like illness (two or more of the following symptoms: cough, runny nose, limb/joint pain, headache) OR other severe/life-threatening illness suggestive of an infectious process.
2. GEOGRAPHICAL Onset of symptoms within seven days of visiting areas known to have cases of swine influenza A/H1N1. Please contact the Occupational Health Service if you need further advice, 028 9097 5541 or occhealth@qub.ac.uk

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