From:
Glen Szymoniak, Superintendent
(Retrieved from flu.gov & NIH news)
Welcome back to the 2009-10 school year! Hope you all have had a wonderful summer.
As school gets underway, we wanted to take this opportunity to update everyone with current information about the H1N1
virus.
1.
Preparedness is urged though there is significant reason to believe that the H1N1 virus and flu will not be significantly
more dangerous than it was in the spring. Information and H1N1 school containment measures will be revised
if flu conditions become more severe.
2. A vaccine is being prepared with some doses
available as early as October.
3.
Central District Health, Idaho is planning a flu vaccination campaign for children ages approx 5-18 probably first
with regular flu vaccine and then as available, H1N1 vaccine.
4. Schools are considered a point where flu can be easily spread from person
to person.
5.
MVSD school custodial staff will continue to wipe down every surface each night to ensure clean school conditions.
They will pay special attention to light switches, computer key boards, door knobs, etc.
6.
Within the schools, students and staff with chronic
medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders and heart disease plus people age 65+ are more likely
to experience complications from the flu. This population is especially urged to visit their doc-
or if they become ill.
7. Students and staff who are ill with fever of
100° F or more must remain at home until their temperature has been normal without fever reducing medication
for 24 hrs.
8.
Guidelines for school staff to prevent the flu:
a. Remind students to practice good hand hygiene (wash hands
with soap and water for 20 seconds each time). Alcohol based hand sanitizers are also effective.
b. Educate students to cover their cough with tissue or elbow.
c. Be a good role model in hand washing and covering
your cough.
d. Be
alert for ill students and send them to the school health office for further evaluation. Ill students
at school must be moved to a separate room until they can be sent home. Consider use of mask for ill students.
e. Stay home if you are ill.
f.
Be prepared with options in case the flu becomes more
severe.
i. Homework
packets/web based education options.
ii. Childcare if your child gets sick and must stay home.
