The H1N1 swine flu pandemic raised a lot of questions about how prepared schools were to handle such an outbreak of an infectious disease in the Spring of 2009. Mass school closures did little to stop the spread of the virus and caused a lot of fear and confusion on the part of parents and the general public. As we learned more about the virus and it's severity, we discovered that it wasn't actually necessary to take such drastic measures.
Now that we have some experience with the H1N1 swine flu virus and it has become a full blown pandemic, the CDC has come out with new guidelines for dealing with the flu pandemic in schools. They actually have two sets of guidelines - one if the virus stays the same as it was in Spring 2009 and is relatively mild and the other if the virus becomes more serious.
If the swine flu stays the same:
- Stay home when sick.
Everyone should stay at home if they have swine flu symptoms until their symptoms and any fever have been completely gone for at lest 24 hours without the use of medication. - Separate sick students and staff.
Schools should provide a separate room to place students and staff who develop flu like symptoms while they are at school. The CDC also recommends that these people wear a mask until they can be sent home. - Wash your hands and cover your cough.
Basic precautions are even more important during a flu pandemic to prevent the spread of illness. Wash hands frequently with soap and water and cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough with a tissue or your elbow. - Routine cleaning.
Routine cleaning of desks and other school equipment is important, but using special cleaners and bleach is not necessary. - Early treatment of high risk groups.
If the pandemic flu virus is confirmed in a school, those who are at high risk for complications from the virus should speak with their health care provider about preventative treatment with antiviral medications. - Consider closing certain high-risk schools.
If a school is comprised of select students who are likely to suffer serious complications from the swine flu, officials may decide to close the school if the virus is found there. Examples would be schools for medically-fragile children or for pregnant women.
If the virus becomes more severe:
- Actively screen students and staff.
All students and staff should be screened for fever and signs of flu-like illness in the morning. All sick students and staff should be separated and sent home as soon as possible. Staff should quickly identify any student who shows signs of illness throughout the day and separate them as well. - High risk students and staff should stay home.
If there is a lot of flu circulating in the community, those at high risk should stay at home. Schools should plan alternate ways to continue education now so they will be prepared if this becomes necessary. - Students with ill family members should stay home.
Students who live with someone who gets sick should stay home for five days from the time the household member gets sick. - Increase distance between people at school.
Move desks farther apart and consider canceling classes that bring together students from multiple classes. - Stay home for at least 7 days.
Anyone who gets sick should stay home from school for at least 7 days or if they are not better within 7 days, for at least 24 hours after all symptoms are gone. - School dismissals.
Public health and school officials will work closely together to decide when and if school dismissals will be necessary. If they are, they are likely to be closed for 5 to 7 days and the need to keep them closed or to reopen will be evaluated after that time. Schools that dismiss students should remain open to teachers and staff so that they can continue to educate through other means.
These guidelines give us a clear plan so that we are prepared when the H1N1 swine flu starts circulating through the schools again. Unlike the seasonal flu, it actually spread throughout the summer as well and it is possible that it will become more serious or deadly during the typical flu season when the weather turns colder.
While these guidelines are helpful for school officials, you may be wondering what you can do to protect your own child this school year. While it may not be possible to avoid the virus completely, there are things you can do to cut down on your child's chances of catching it. Dr. Janet Bruno, medical director of Optum Health, suggests that "while in school, children should make certain to wash their hands frequently – certainly after using the restroom, after playing outside, and always before eating. Teaching all children to cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough is very important. Otherwise, during the school year, children should get adequate sleep and eat a balanced diet to keep their immune system high."
If you believe your child may have swine flu, you should contact your child's health care provider for instructions about what to do. Dr. Bruno also suggests calling the CDC's help line (1-800-CDC-INFO) which is available 24 hours every day if you are unsure about the symptoms of swine flu.
Sources:
"CDC Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year."H1N1 Flu 07 Aug 09. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 Aug 09.
