Wednesday Lunch Speaker
July 16, 2003

Peter A. Reinhardt

SARS on Campus

In May 2003, the University of North Carolina developed travel guidance and policies to minimize the risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to students, faculty and staff who travel internationally and study ab road, as well as those returning from high -risk international locations, and visitors coming to Chapel Hill from those areas. Later that month, a contractor working at the University returned from Toronto and developed SARS.

This paper describes the University’s experience in SARS policymaking, and its response to a confirmed SARS case who had worked at the University. Risk communications were critical to inform employees and address their concerns. Although no secondary transmissions of SARS have been reported in the U.S., public health and employee concerns were com-pounded by a number of concurrent illnesses and two university employees designated by CDC as “Persons of Special Interest.” In conjunction with Public Health officials and UNC Hospitals, the University implemented a health questionnaire and a pre-work temperature monitoring procedure, and constructed a temporary screening facility. With many thousands of students returning to U.S. universities from SARS- affected areas this fall, UNC’s experience can provide valuable insights to emergency preparedness.

Biography
Peter A. Reinhardt is the Director of Environment, Health and Safety at the University of North Carolina. He previously worked 21 years at the University of Wisconsin, last serving as their Assistant Safety Director. Mr. Reinhardt has a B.S. in Biochemistry and an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.