Background
At any given time, Stanislaus State must comply with a variety of existing federal (e.g., CDC, OSHA, FDA), state (e.g., Governor, Cal/OSHA, CSU), as well as county-specific (e.g., Stanislaus and San Joaquin County Departments of Public Health) related policies, protocols, and practices. The Infectious Disease Response Team (IDRT) is established to be a representative group of key campus experts who will be better informed about infectious disease-related policies that impact our campus, in conjunction with campus-specific and county-specific data that are used to monitor and track conditions on campus and in our region in order to provide feedback regarding campus plans to prioritize the safety and of all students, employees and visitors to our campus.
Purpose
- The purpose of the IDRT is to utilize the best and most current scientific information and data to always safeguard the health, safety and well-being of all Stan State students, employees, guests and our community.
- Involve and mobilize expert external consultants including public health officials as well as campus experts to better inform, educate, and seek feedback from key constituency group leaders as needed regarding impacts to campus operations.
- Better understand, accurately track, and utilize a range of critically important data (e.g., campus-specific and relevant county data) in order to provide feedback and input to the President and Cabinet that will enhance our ability to pivot or modify Stan State’s formal infectious disease plans and operations as conditions change on campus and in our communities.
- Continue to provide feedback and collaborative support to enhance and improve communication processes across the campus and with our communities.
The Team
The ad hoc team supports the Emergency Operation Center and Business Continuity directives to discuss when and how the University should respond to public health concerns. The team’s intent is to familiarize likely responders with each other, establish effective lines of communication, learn about one another’s areas of expertise, and discuss scenarios under which the University may need to respond to an infectious disease issue.
Public Health Response
The University Infectious Disease Response Team is made up of representatives from Safety & Risk Management, the Student Health Center, Housing, University Police, Public Affairs, Faculty, Student Affairs, and the Dean of Students.
Campus IDRT Members
IDRT Chair: Vicki Jones
Members:
- Aaron Allaire
- Evelyn Calvillo
- Heather Dunn Carlton
- Adam Deniz
- Amy Diaz
- April Dunham-Filson
- Brittany Fentress
- Belinda Garcia
- Hugo Hernandez
- Sarah Sweitzer
- Sergio Mazon
- Dawn McCulley
- Juliana De Melo
- Laura Roberts
- Marla Seacrist
- Alvaro De Sousa
- Kristina Stamper
- Misty Strode
- Jen Sturtevant
- Amanda Theis
- Heather Pearson Villeda
- Suzanne Whitehead
- Guadalupe Linares
- Renee Giannini
- Jessica Bettencourt Wojciechowski
CDC Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel
View the CDC Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel for current details on the respiratory illness activity in California and other areas in the U.S., including flu, RSV and COVID-19.
H5N1 Bird Flu
Learn How H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads
What to know
- H5N1 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows.
- There have been several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
- Current public health risk is low.
Protective Actions for People
- Protective actions around wild birds Avoid direct contact with wild birds and observe them only from a distance, if possible. Wild birds can be infected with avian (bird) influenza (flu) A viruses even if they don't look sick. Learn more.
- What to do if you find a dead bird Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died and call the University Police Department at (209) 667-3114 (after-hours call (209) 667-3911) or Capital Planning and Facilities Management at (209) 667-3211 to report sick or dead birds. If you must have direct/close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals, wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Learn more.
- Do not touch surfaces or materials (e.g., animal litter or bedding material) contaminated with saliva, mucous, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected avian bird influenza A virus infection.
- Protective actions around other animals with H5N1 bird flu Avoid unprotected exposure to infected live or dead animals or surfaces contaminated by them. Learn more.
- Protective actions if you work with potentially infected dairy cattle Avoid unprotected direct physical contact or close exposure with cattle and materials potentially infected or confirmed to be infected with HPAI A(H5) virus. Learn more.
- Consuming Milk People should not eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk. Choosing pasteurized milk is the best way to keep you and your family safe. Learn more.
- Preparing food It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. There are recommendations around products from other animals with H5 virus infections, including cattle and milk. Learn more.
- Traveling to other countries CDC does not currently recommend any travel restrictions related to bird flu to countries affected by bird flu in birds, other animals or people. Learn more.
- If you have contact with infected birds or other animals and become sick Learn what to do if you have contact with infected birds or other animals and become sick. Learn more.
- Clinicians can visit CDC's avian influenza (bird flu) information for health professionals for the latest guidance. Learn more.
- Public health professionals and laboratorians can visit CDC's avian influenza (bird flu) information for public health partners for the latest guidance. Learn more.
- Get a seasonal flu vaccine Seasonal flu vaccination will not prevent infection with bird flu viruses, but can reduce the risk of getting sick with human influenza viruses and thus the risk for seasonal and bird flu co-infection. Learn more.
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus discovered in 2019. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets and small particles produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus spreads readily in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings. Illness can range from mild to severe, though not everyone infected with the virus develops symptoms. Adults 65 years and older and people of any age with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness.
Mpox is a rare disease caused by a virus from the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox symptoms are similar to smallpox, but milder, and mpox is rarely fatal.
Central Valley Wastewater Data for COVID-19, Influenza, RSV, Mpox, HMPV, and Norovirus
Healthy Central Valley Together (HCVT), Cal-SuWers Network, and Biobot collect wastewater samples from certain Central Valley wastewater treatment plants for analysis of multiple infectious diseases that leave genetic markers in sewage. These results are viewable on the sites below and assist public health officials and the general public by providing an early detection tool and tracks these diseases in various communities.
Updated: January 15, 2025