Government releases school guidelines for H1N1 flu

With the first day of school just days away, school districts across
the country are developing their policies and procedures for
handling any possible outbreak of the HiN1 flu.

With the 2009-2010 school year starting in less than two weeks, the federal government has issued guidelines for schools if students become infected with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. The guidelines are not requirements; each school district will decide on whether or not school closures are necessary if students or faculty contract the H1N1 flu.

Since the H1N1 has not turned out to be as deadly for the general population as originally anticipated, the federal government is recommending that schools stay open unless large numbers of students and faculty become ill, and students can be permitted to return to school 24 hours after they are symptom-free. Sick students and faculty will be asked to leave school and stay at home until they are no longer able to spread the virus. All students and faculty are encouraged to practice proper hand washing techniques and to cover their sneezes and coughs to prevent the spread of the H1N1.

According to www.flu.gov, “The decision to dismiss students should be made locally and should balance the goal of reducing the number of people who become seriously ill or die from influenza with the goal of minimizing social disruption and safety risks to children sometimes associated with school dismissal. Based on the experience and knowledge gained in jurisdictions that had large outbreaks in spring 2009, the potential benefits of preemptively dismissing students from school are often outweighed by negative consequences, including students being left home alone, health workers missing shifts when they must stay home with their children, students missing meals, and interruption of students’ education.”

The H1N1 flu continued to spread throughout the world during the summer months, a time of year that tends to be free of flu outbreaks. It is anticipated that cases of the flu will rise when the school year resumes, as it did during the 1957 influenza epidemic. According to a related article in Time Magazine, at least 80 summer camps in 40 states reported cases of H1N1 flu during the summer. Many camps for special needs children had to close down temporarily because children with chronic health conditions are at greater risk for complications from the flu.

Earlier this summer the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued recommendations for H1N1 flu vaccinations, which covers roughly half of the US population--160 million people. The target demographics include pregnant women, children six months and older and health care workers, as well as parents and caregivers of infants, non-elderly adults with high risk medical conditions, and young adults ages 19 to 24. The H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine is expected to be available later this fall, and is different than the influenza vaccine for the 2009-2010 flu season.

For more info: Read a related story on the summer camp H1N1 flu outbreaks at summer camps HERE. Keep up to date on Orange County Public School--which open August 24--HERE.