Influenza (flu) update

As of April 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. If you are an employee or user who returned from Mexico this week, or will return in the upcoming weeks, the laboratory requests that you stay home for three days upon your return to see if flu symptoms materialize. Employees should contact their division/section/center heads to explain the reason for their absence and to discuss possible arrangements for continuing to work remotely.

Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with the flu, or people who were exposed to someone possibly infected with the flu, should promptly notify their personal medical provider. Employees and experimenters should also notify Fermilab's Medical Department (x3232, Wilson Hall ground floor west) of their condition and in the event they have a confirmed case of H1N1 influenza (swine flu).

Here are the generally accepted symptoms of the flu.

• Fever: Usually 102F to 104F; usually lasts three to four days
• Headache: Sudden onset and can be severe
• Muscle aches: Usual and often severe
• Tiredness and weakness: Extreme; can last two or more weeks
• Extreme exhaustion: Sudden onset and severe
• Runny nose, sneezing, sore throat: Sometimes
• Cough: Usual; can be severe

Remember that the most important measures you can take to prevent infection are thorough and frequent hand washing; minimizing close contact with others; covering coughs and sneezes; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; properly disposing of tissues; and you and family members staying home when ill. For more information visit the ES&H homepage.

We are aware of the potential impact of school closings on our staff and of the need to take care of children exhibiting flu symptoms. We are monitoring this situation closely and are reviewing the issues as we develop our response to this matter.

Fermilab is also working with local health officials to ensure we are knowledgeable of and help implement Public Health policy to insure the safety and health of all employees and users. We will provide updates on an as-needed base.

The 2009 TIME 100:
Steven Chu

From TIME, April 29, 2009

Steven Chu

Editor's Note: Energy Secretary Steven Chu was chosen as one of TIME's 2009 top 100 most influential people in the category of scientists and thinkers. An excerpt from environmentalist Bill McKibben's explanation of Chu's listing is below.

One of the hardest things about being a scientist may be learning how not to sound like one. Steven Chu has mastered the skill - and that's good for all of us. America's newly installed Secretary of Energy, Chu, 61, won the Nobel Prize in 1997 for his esoteric studies in physics, but he has also focused his energies on studying biology down at the molecular level.

Perhaps Chu's greatest impact, however, has been in the area of energy. Long a vocal advocate of weaning the U.S. from its dependence on fossil fuels, he was picked by President Barack Obama for both his ability and his candor. With the future of the earth's climate dependent on rethinking the ways we consume energy, both skills will be needed in equal measure, but it's the candor part that might be the most refreshing.

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Pigs are phishing

There have been a number of malicious e-mails reported that take advantage of people's concerns about the 2009 H1N1 influenza, the "swine" flu that's currently in the news. Remember not to open attachments from anyone you don't know, including organizations that claim to offer medical advice. It's easy to falsify e-mail to make it appear to come from anyone, including legitimate places like the Center for Disease Control or other health organizations.

These e-mails may contain a link for you to click on. Do not do this unless you are sure that the message came from a valid source. If you want medical advice, navigate directly to the Web site by using a bookmark that you've used before or by typing the site's URL directly into your browser. If you use Google to locate a Web site, remember that Google has no way of differentiating legitimate sites from malicious sites. Make sure to examine the URL to make sure it looks correct before you visit.

John Plese talks tonight on NC17 about bison, calves

A bison calf and its mother.

Fermilab bison herder John Plese explains about the herd and the two week-old calves during an interview on Naperville Television Channel 17, which broadcasts online and to homes in Naperville and parts of Aurora. The interview is part of the segment "Naperville Connection" and airs at 6 p.m. Friday. The story will repeat on television and at NCTV17.com for the next seven days at 7:30 a.m., noon, 6 p.m., 9 p.m. 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The Fermilab segment is toward the end of the one-hour program.