Guidance for H1N1 Influenza
August 31, 2009
The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or on an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.
Novel H1N1 influenza virus infection (formerly known as swine flu) has been shown to affect school-aged children disproportionately, and children are known to be highly likely to transmit flu viruses, especially in school and other group settings. H1N1 may persist into the fall, potentially as a more severe strain, causing more serious and life-threatening illness. H1N1 can cause a wide range of symptoms. These flu-like symptoms are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as persons with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher plus a cough or a sore throat in the absence of a known diagnosis. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, runny nose and congestion, fatigue, body aches, and headache. Symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting have also been fairly common. If your child awakens with these symptoms on a school morning, please keep your child at home. Stay home until you have been symptom-free (fever less than 100 degrees for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine), OR you have been diagnosed by a physician and have been released to safely return to school/work. In the event the incidence or severity of H1N1 increases, it is likely the school/work exclusion requirements will be changed by the CDC. Holdrege Public Schools will follow all guidelines issued by the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services.
We are planning for the potential administration of novel H1N1 vaccine if it becomes available this fall/winter. The vaccine will be allocated and distributed according to priority groups which are established by the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine is not yet available. In an effort to minimize the spread of infection in our schools we encourage good hand washing and cough and sneeze etiquette by all. For more information regarding H1N1 influenza, visit: www.flu.gov
We would like to remind you to take personal precautions to protect yourself and your family:
1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use antibacterial sanitizers.
2. Cough into your sleeve or a tissue.
3. Stay home if you are ill (see guidelines above).
4. Stay away from people who are ill.
5. Be sure you have resources and information to care for your family at home.
6. DO NOT give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye ’s syndrome.
