Pandemic Flu

SUNY Canton has been actively planning for the possibility of a pandemic flu event.

SUNY Canton Emergency Management Team and Pandemic Flu subcommittee are developing key response procedures for all college departments.
SUNY Canton is providing flu prevention information to students, faculty and staff, including this web site and our handwashing campaign. Hand sanitizers have been placed in designated areas around campus.
SUNY Canton is working with the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department to make sure our preparations and plans are consistent with theirs. In an outbreak or pandemic, St. Lawrence County Health Department has authority to direct public health actions, including quarantine. The College is also working with Associated Colleges to develop any shared plans and resources.

Our first steps are to begin educating the campus community on pandemic flu and your role in panedemic flu planning. An Emergency Preparedness PowerPoint is available to help you to better prepare for emergencies like pandemic flu. Our local Health Department has also prepared a Pandemic Flu Planning Guide.

What is Pandemic Flu?

An influenza pandemic happens when a new flu virus emerges that has not previously circulated in humans. People will have no immunity to a pandemic virus. Infection and illness rates will likely be much higher than during epidemics of normal influenza.

What is Avian Flu (Bird Flu)?

Avian flu (subtype H5N1), also known as the “bird flu” is a hot topic in the media these days. Despite the fact that millions of birds, domestic and wild, have been culled (picked out), the infection remains persistent in the bird population and continues to spread along the flight path of migratory birds. Most of the laboratory-confirmed cases in humans have resulted from direct contact with infected birds with only a few cases occurring from human-to-human contact.

Why the concern?

Scientists, public health authorities, and government officials have expressed concern that a pandemic flu could be sparked by the virus if it mutates in a way that allows for sustainable transmission from person to person. The World Health Organization and U.S. health authorities are making preparations in the event a pandemic occurs and has urged all communities to do so.

Flu Education is a key first step towards preparedness. The Health Center will be doing tables on campus to promote the "Cover Your Cough" campaign. You can also visit this web page to learn about the status of the pandemic flu both locally and worldwide. Several web sites are included here which will have the most current pandemic/avian flu information available.

Check out these websites for the latest developments:

Pandemic Flu
NYS Dept of Health
CDC Avian Influenza
World Health Organization

Davis Health Center
Campus Center 004
SUNY Canton
34 Cornell Drive
Canton, New York 13617

Phone: 315-386-7333
Fax: 315-386-7932

Regular Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 8 am - 4:30 pm
Friday: 8 am - 4:00 pm

Summer Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 8 am - 4:30 pm
Friday: 8 am - 12:00 pm