At the beginning of this school year, the Management of Cégep Marie-Victorin welcomes you.  Every day the media discusses the situation surrounding the influenza A(H1N1) virus.  Management takes your health to heart and wishes to establish various preventive measures.

Although this influenza remains benign in the vast majority of cases, we are continuing the supervisory process started in the spring, to closely monitor the development of the situation, specifically with the Public health department.  Thus, other communications in relation to the measures to be adopted by the Cégep may be transmitted to you, in case of need. For the time being, no cases of influenza A(H1N1) have been identified in our establishment.

The school year is thus proceeding normally, but we want to communicate a few simple instructions to you.

It is possible to reduce the spread of the virus by simple means, such as

• Wash your hand often with soap and water or with an alcohol based hand sanitizer;
• Cough or sneeze into the fold of your elbow or the top of your shoulder rather than in your hands.

Posters on those subjects will be hung and pamphlets will be distributed soon.

On the other hand, people with influenza-like symptoms (i.e.  Unusual fever - between 38 and 40 C - cough, headache, great weariness or aches, sore throat, pulmonary discomfort) must not present to the Cégep and are urged to quickly consult a doctor. You can also obtain additional information from InfoSanté at 811.

The students and staff who present to the Cégep with influenza-like symptoms will be sent home.

If the symptoms persist beyond seven days, the affected person may resume his usual activities if his overall state allows, because he/she is no longer contagious.

Continuing education students must immediately notify of their absence:

• For the central campus, at the Dujarié pavilion, at 514-325-0150 extension 2389;
• At the Bélanger pavilion, at 514-278-3535 extension 221;
• At the Namur pavilion (Multicultural education center), at 514-733-3232 extension 10.

Upon their return, regardless of the diagnosis, these students are invited to submit their medical certificate and to retain a copy that they could submit to their teacher in order to justify their absence.  In fact, the students who are required to be absent for one or several course periods or to a test should provide the teacher in question with a copy of the medical certificate as justification.

The Management of Cégep Marie-Victorin has the health of the members of its community at heart and undertakes to adopt all the necessary preventive measures to protect the health of the members of its staff, as well as that of its students.

For any general information regarding influenza A(H1N1), please contact Services Québec at 1 877 644-4545 or consult the  Quebec Pandemic Internet site at http://www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca.