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Swine flu advice and guidance Page last updated: 20 January 2010 at 6.03pm
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) please visit their Swine Flu webpages. Staff, students and visitors will be informed via this website of any amendments to normal routines that may be required if the Swine Flu situation changes. Students, Staff and Visitors are encouraged to practice good hygiene Influenza mainly spreads from person to person through close contact. Coughing and sneezing within a metre or so of another person can expose them to infectious droplets. Hands can become contaminated through touching someone who is unwell, or through touching door handles or other hard surfaces contaminated with the virus. If you then touch your mouth before washing your hands you can catch the infection. Personal hygiene can affect the spread of the Swine Flu virus. As a precaution, please ensure that you practise respiratory and hand hygiene including:
If you have a Student Health enquiry relating to Swine Flu please contact the University student health advisor on +44 (0)2890 366905. Swine Flu questions and answers for students in University of Ulster controlled accommodation Although there have been a significant number of Swine Flu infections in the UK it is important to note that students are more likely to be exposed to the virus whilst attending lectures or travelling on public transport than any risk of infection within the Halls of Residence. Question and answer information for students in University of Ulster controlled accommodation (Halls of Residence) has been developed to give guidance and reassurance to students who may be concerned. Revision to the University Examination and Assessment Regulations as a consequence of the swine flu pandemic The University assessment regulations in respect of extenuating circumstances have been revised in light of the swine flu pandemic for those students exhibiting flu or flu-like symptoms only. What changes have been made to the University Regulations? The current pandemic has been designated an 'exceptional circumstance'. This means that students suffering from flu or flu-like symptoms which may affect their performance during examinations or other assessment are not required to provide a medical certificate. This is because national health advice discourages individuals from visiting GP surgeries in instances where the person has or thinks they have contracted swine flu. As a consequence your GP may refuse to issue a certificate. This exception also applies when seeking an extension to a deadline for the submission of coursework. Alternative third-party corroboration of flu or flu-like symptoms is required during the swine flu pandemic. Such evidence may be provided by any of the following: confirmation from your doctor’s surgery of a telephone call about your condition; a photocopy of your prescription if one has been issued; and/or a written statement from either the University’s Student Health department, a Resident Assistant, a relative or a friend, or your flu friend or flu buddy (if you have followed government advice and asked some one to take on this role). Please note that this exceptional arrangement applies to students exhibiting flu or flu-like symptoms only. Medical certificates are still required for other illnesses. What do I do if I have flu or flu-like symptoms during the examination, assessment or coursework period and I believe these symptoms prevented my attendance at an examination or affected my performance. Do not attend for the examination, if you are unwell. Do the following:
Students should familiarise themselves with the Procedures for Presentation of Extenuating Circumstances held on the Academic Services: Examinations website. This tells you how the University deals with the evidence submitted and arrangements for the assessment of the examinations or assignments which you have missed. Should you need to claim extenuating circumstances in relation to flu or swine flu symptoms during the examination, assessment and coursework period please download and print out the EC1 Form and the Supporting Statement document. The supporting statement must be completed by a third party and returned to your Course/Subject Director along with your EC1 Form within the timeframe specified.
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