Dear Atlanta Technical College Community,

We want to update everyone on what the college is doing with regard to the swine flu public health emergency.  These steps have been taken to monitor developments, and more action will be taken in the future if circumstances warrant.

• Ms. Tiffany Stoney, Infection Control Coordinator, and other officers on campus will continue to monitor discussions by health authorities on a local level, in Fulton, Clayton, Henry, Dekalb, and Cobb counties, as well as on a state level.

• The Technical College System of Georgia is also monitoring developments, and will be informed of any change in the TCSG posture as to the severity of the situation.

• At this point, minor sanitary precautions are being taken on campus, such as regularly disinfecting doorknobs to stop the spread of infectious agents.

At this point, we would suggest that everyone practice the following precautions as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to protect your health and those of our college community:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Throw the tissue in a trash receptacle after your use it.

• Wash you hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

• Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Infectious agents spread this way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Do not go to work or school if you are sick.  The CDC recommends that you limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Incidents or developments on campus will be communicated via telephone tree and other routine notifications for campus closings.

Additional information can be accessed at the following sites:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_29/en/index.html

Pandemicflu.gov: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/index.html

Should you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Stoney, Infection Control Coordinator, 404-225-4559.