Senior campus leaders and members of the emergency operations team met early this week about the swine flu outbreak and were closely monitoring it to best protect the campus.

As Dateline went to press April 29, there had been no changes to university operations or activities as a result of swine flu.

Valerie Lucus, emergency and business continuity manager, said the campus was reviewing its pandemic plans and had asked safety coordinators to update departmental plans. Campus representatives were in close contact with the Yolo County Health Department.

The federal government declared a public health emergency on April 26. By midweek, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 14 confirmed cases of swine flu in California out of 92 total in the United States. A death in Texas was the only U.S. fatality.

UC Davis’ response is noted on a new Web site that encourages people to be aware of swine flu’s symptoms, similar to those of seasonal flu, and to take steps to prevent infection.

Meanwhile, experts from the UC Davis Health System, veterinary sciences and elsewhere were sharing their expertise with public health authorities and fielding calls from local and national media.

April 30 letter to the campus community.