Emerging Infectious Diseases - Colorado College

SARS | West Nile Virus | Influenza | MRSA | Mumps

In the near future, SARS or another new contagious disease will re-emerge somewhere in the world. Because foreign travel is a popular activity for our community, the likelihood of CC students or faculty being exposed to a new emerging infection, though rare, still exists. The Colorado College community is primarily a residential campus in which most students live in close proximity to one another in the residence halls. Students, faculty and staff also share classrooms, dining areas and athletic facilities. Because many viruses are spread not only by droplet (cough, sneeze), but also by contaminated surfaces and objects, the chance of exposure within such an intimate community would be greater than on a commuter campus. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that individuals who have traveled in areas that have outbreak of a new emerging disease such as SARS, stay in their private homes for ten days and monitor themselves for symptoms of high fever, severe cough, and possibly diarrhea. Because of our communal living environment, such isolation would be costly and difficult to arrange on campus. Therefore, we suggest that students postpone travel to a country that is experiencing an outbreak of an extremely contagious disease and on which the CDC or WHO (World Health Organization) has placed a travel advisory. Any student who is currently traveling in a country that is in the midst of such an outbreak, or who has had close personal contact (hugging, kissing) with an infected patient, may be asked to change their return ticket so that they go home to their family for ten days before returning to campus. If a student chooses not to comply with either of the above requests and develops symptoms that meet the criteria for the new infection, they will be asked to CALL Boettcher Health Center, 719-389-6384. They will also be asked to remain in their rooms, avoid close contact with other students, and wash their hands frequently. The Boettcher medical staff will need to make advanced preparations before assessing this student. After appropriate medical assessment, the student may require off campus isolation and observation for 72 hours.

We also encourage all members of the CC community to get a flu shot, if medically appropriate. Having had a flu shot will assist medical providers in arriving at a more accurate diagnosis of SARS.

This website will provide ongoing educational and procedural information, with hyperlinks to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), regarding new emerging communicable diseases. The site will also attempt to keep the Colorado College community informed of any new concerns or protocols.