Notice from the MDHS Health Office

H1N1 Preparedness

“We’re going to continue to do everything possible to keep our children
and all Americans healthy and safe this Fall.” 

Secretary of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sibelius

Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) is a respiratory disease caused by type A Influenza (H1N1) viruses and is spread from person to person.  It is spread mainly through the coughing and sneezing of people with influenza.  Sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.  People with Swine Flu are potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly as long as 7 days.

·        Teachers have been instructed to keep open lines of communication with students, i.e. E-boards, weekly syllabi, E-mail.

·        Students have been instructed to have a class buddy in each class.

·        As a community, basic hand washing and respiratory hygiene will be stressed.

·        The Health Department has asked school health personnel to instruct parents and guardians to check their children every morning for illness before they go to school. Keep children home if they have a fever.  Notify your own personal physician of your child’s health status.

·        As a precaution, students who are at school and appear to have flu-like symptoms will be sent home.

 When a parent calls to report a student’s absence from school, it is very important to let the school know why the child is out.

If the student is experiencing Influenza-like illness symptoms, please keep the lines of communication open.

The Health Department has instructed the school to have students, staff and faculty members remain home for 24 hours after fever has subsided without the use of fever reducing medication.

Students involved in athletics, drama, music and other co-curricular activities must be vigilant as well.

The greatest defense is a person’s own immunity, therefore enforce good health habits:  good nutrition, frequent hand-washing and adequate amounts of sleep. 

Remember:  according to the Center for Disease Control, good hand washing is the first level of defense against all infection. 

For more information:

Visit: www.flu.gov

Contact CDC 24 hours/every day

          1-800-232-4636

          TTY: 888-232-6348

          cdcinfo@cdc.gov