U.S. colleges given swine flu guidelines

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Colleges and universities should consider suspending classes this fall if there's a swine flu epidemic, the U.S. government suggests.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines that call for "self-isolation" of sick students and employees until a full day after fever from the flu subsides, The Washington Post reported.

The guidelines also suggest that ill students go home if they live near campus, and travel in a taxi or private car, not a bus or train.

Schools were urged to redouble efforts to disinfect elevator buttons and faucet handles.

"We're hoping we're on track to be out ahead of this virus," said Kathleen Sibelius, health and human services secretary.