Influenza and H1N1 Guidance For Parents

  Our school district and districts across the country are monitoring the status of all influenza, including H1N1.  As a parent or guardian, you can help prevent the spread of influenza in our schools.  Please take time to read through the following information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to find out what you can do.

  Per guidance from the CDC and MDH, our tracking and prevention efforts are focused on students and staff with influenza-like symptoms, not specifically H1N1.  The "seasonal flu" and H1N1 are similar in signs, symptoms and modes of transmission.  Testing for H1N1 is only being done in extreme circumstances. 

  We were told to expect a significantly higher than normal number of influenza cases this school year.  It was anticipated by the Minnesota Department of Health that they would occur earlier in the season, possibly even by the middle of October, and that proved to be true.  Student absences due to influenza rose from mid to late October and now appear to be going down.  We ask your help to help keep the numbers down.

  For additional information, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website at www.health.state.mn.us or the federal flu website at www.flu.gov.    

  Thank you for everything you do to help prevent the spread of influenza in our schools.

Current guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  

Keep your child home if they have symptoms of the flu. That means a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, with cough and/or a sore throat.  You should check your child for these symptoms each morning before sending them to school and be sure to check your child's temperature if they say they don't feel good.  Other symptoms that may occur with flu include runny nose, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea (in addition to fever and cough or sore throat). Be sure to let your school know if your child is home due to influenza-like illness -the Minnesota Department of Health has asked us to track the number of absences due to the flu. 

Sick children should stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without use of fever-reducing drugs like Tylenol or Motrin. Children should not come back to school if they are not well enough to participate in school activities, even if their fever has been gone for 24 hours. Children staying home with flu symptoms should also avoid contact with others except to get medical care.  This includes staying away from after-school and other activities.  Do not use aspirin or aspirin-containing products when your child has influenza symptoms. 

Some additional points:

o   Children still need to stay home until their fever has been gone for 24 hours even if they are on antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or have had a flu test that is negative.  Flu tests are not always accurate.

o   When you contact the school to say that your child will be out sick, please let us know they have influenza-like illness (flu symptoms). This will help us know the amount of flu activity in the school.

o   Children returning to school after an influenza-like illness will still be able to spread the illness, although less easily than when they had fever and flu symptoms. To avoid spreading the virus, it is very important that they clean their hands frequently, and cover coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue while at school.

o   Plan ahead of time for child care arrangements for at least 7 days in case your child develops flu symptoms.

Teach your child to clean their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. They will need to use soap and water if their hands are soiled. Schools will remind them to clean their hands regularly during the school day.  This is very important for every student - students who are well and students who are coming back to school after being sick. 

Teach your child to cover coughs and sneezes. They should use a tissue when one is available, but they can also cough or sneeze into an elbow or arm. Hands should not be used to cover a cough or sneeze.

Teach your child to avoid sharing personal items . That includes items like drinks, food or eating utensils

If your child is at high risk for complications from influenza, plan to take some additional precautions. This includes children with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease, metabolic conditions, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders, and girls who are pregnant.  Children younger than 5 years old are also at higher risk of complications from flu.  If you're not sure whether your child is at higher risk, check with a doctor.  If your child is at high risk contact your doctor immediately if your child develops flu symptoms. If your child needs antiviral drugs, they should be started within two days of symptoms for the best response.

Vaccinate your child.  The Minnesota Department of Health recommends vaccinating all children against regular, seasonal influenza. That step is especially critical for children at high risk of influenza-related complications.  A separate vaccination will be needed for novel H1N1 influenza.  First priority for H1N1 vaccination will be given to pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, people age 6 months to 24 years, people 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health disorders or weakened immune systems, and health care providers.  It is likely that two doses of H1N1 vaccine will be needed, given several weeks apart.

Learn how to care for a person with flu symptoms at home and when to seek medical attention. Check the CDC and MDH websites: 

o http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm

o http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/h1n1/basics/care

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