Updated Information about the Flu and H1N1

Monday October 26, 2009
Dear Parents of PORTA Students
I am writing to update parents in regards to flu related illness in our district.  As you know last week we recognized a higher than normal absentee rate at PORTA Jr. High and notified everyone about those illnesses.  As of Monday, October 26 we have seen a substantial decrease in flu related illnesses.  This does not mean that we should ignore the fact that a highly contagious flu virus is in our mist.  In fact we ask that families take extra caution over the next few weeks to help stop the spread of the virus.  One way to help is monitor your children for a fever, if they have a fever please do not send the student to school.   We continue to notify the Menard County Health Department about daily absences and have been told that Type A flu has been confirmed in our district and no cases of H1N1 have been confirmed. 
The district will continue to disinfect areas of common touching or hand contact such as doorknobs and computers as well as encourage good hygiene practices among students and staff. Further, the district supports and adheres to the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDEC), which are as follows:
• Stay home when sick:
Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs.
• Separate ill students and staff:
Students and staff who appear to have flu-like illness should be sent to a room separate from others until they can be sent home. CDC recommends that they wear a surgical mask, if possible, and that those who care for ill students and staff wear protective gear such as a mask.
• Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette:
The new recommendations emphasize the importance of the basic foundations of influenza prevention: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap and water when possible, and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).
• Routine cleaning:
School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. CDC does not believe any additional disinfection of environmental surfaces beyond the recommended routine cleaning is required.
• Early treatment of high-risk students and staff:
People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with influenza-like illness should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very important for people at high risk because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths. People at high risk include those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems, or have neuromuscular diseases.
• Consideration of selective school dismissal:
Although there are not many schools where all or most students are at high risk (for example, schools for medically fragile children or for pregnant students) a community might decide to dismiss such a school to better protect these high-risk students.
Typically, the flu (also known as Influenza) has symptoms that make a child feel worse than symptoms associated with a common cold, but it is not always that easy to tell the difference between the two. To help determine whether your child's fighting the flu or combating a cold, review these questions:
Question Flu Cold
Was your child’s onset of illness… Sudden? Slow?
Does your child have a… High fever? No or mild fever?
Is your child's exhaustion level… Severe? Mild?
Is your child's head… Achy? Headache-free?
Is your child's appetite… Decreased? Normal?
Are your child's muscles… Achy? Fine?
Does your child have… Chills? No chills?
If most of your answers fell into the first category, chances are that your child has the flu. If your answers usually belonged in the second category, it's most likely a cold. But don't be too quick to brush off your child's illness as just another cold. The important thing to remember is that flu symptoms can vary from child to child (and they can change as the illness progresses), so if you suspect the flu, call the doctor. Even doctors often need a test to tell them for sure if your child has the flu or not since the symptoms can be so similar! Some bacterial diseases, like strep throat or pneumonia, can also look like the flu or a cold. It's important to get medical attention immediately if your child seems to be getting worse, is having any trouble breathing, has a high fever, has a bad headache, has a sore throat, or seems confused. While even healthy kids can have complications of the flu, kids with certain medical conditions are at more of a risk. If you think your child might have the flu, get in touch with the doctor. (Adapted from www.kidshealth.org article)
The CDC has provided guidance for parents and schools on when a student can return to school. The recommendation is to wait 24 hours with no fever and no medicine like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Sick individuals should stay at home until the end of the exclusion period, except when necessary to seek required medical care. Keeping people with a fever at home may reduce the number of people who get infected. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be given to children or teenagers who have influenza; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome. For more information on caring for the sick go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm. Other resources for parents may be found at the following websites or by calling the Illinois Flu Hotline at 866-848-2094:  www.cdc.gov, and www.idph.state.il.us.
Thank You,
Matthew W. Brue
Superintendent