SWINE INFLUENZA INFORMATION
While there is~no vaccine~for the current swine flu strain, there are still important steps that everyone can take to help prevent getting or spreading any type of influenza:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.~ Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Practice good "cough etiquette" by coughing or sneezing into a tissue, or into your elbow instead of into your hands.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
The following web sites are offered to those residents who would like more information and/or updates for the H1N1 Swine Influenza.
CDC:
Info Phone Line:~~ 1-800-CDCINFO (18002324636)
The Department of Health and Human Services:
World Health Organization:
Swine Flu Information and Fact Sheets
Also, the American Psychological Association has useful information and tips for coping with the ongoing news updates about swine flu at http://www.apahelpcenter.org
Information for School and Childcare Settings
Two cases of swine influenza have now been confirmed in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is providing the following guidance for schools and child care settings. As more information becomes available and the situation unfolds, guidance is likely to change in the upcoming days and weeks. It is important for school administrators, school health officials and child care administrators to stay informed by monitoring the DPH website, which has links to the Centers for Disease Control swine influenza website.
DPH had developed a fact sheet on swine flu, which you should feel free to provide to parents, students and staff. It is available on the DPH website in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Khmer, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole.
Guidance for School and Childcare Settings
At this time, DPH recommends that schools and childcare settings increase education on respiratory hygiene and monitor attendees for acute febrile respiratory illness. (See DPH website, for posters and materials to support these educational efforts.)
Staff and children (as developmentally appropriate) should all be taught and asked to follow these steps that prevent the transmission of infections such as influenza:
- Stay home if you are sick, especially with a fever.
Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes into a tissue or the inside of your elbow, not into your bare hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
School or childcare participants with acute febrile respiratory illness, regardless of travel history, should be advised to stay home or be sent home according to facilities-established procedures with instructions to stay at home for least 7 days after the onset of illness or until 24 hours after their symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.~ This period of exclusion can be shortened if it is found that the child is unlikely to have influenza, for example if an alternative diagnosis is made. The 7 day period of exclusion would not apply to a child with an isolated fever and no respiratory or influenza symptoms.
Instructions should be given to seek medical care if symptoms worsen. At this time, exclusion is not recommended for school or childcare participants who have recently traveled to an area where swine flu cases have been confirmed, and who do not have an acute febrile respiratory illness.
Definition of Acute Respiratory Illness
Acute respiratory illness is defined as recent onset of fever >37.8 (100F) and at least two of the following:
- Rhinorrhea
- Sore throat
- Cough
Disease Reporting and Consultation
School nurses and student health centers should report higher than normal absenteeism to your local health department or to the DPH Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800.
For the most up-to-date information:
School and/or Day Care Specific Resources
All you have to do is wash your hands Podcast: This Podcast teaches children how and when to wash their hands properly.
Downloadable Flu Prevention Materials for Schools/Day Cares:
BAM! Body and Mind. Teacher's Corner: In this activity, students will conduct an experiment on washing their hands. They will learn that "clean" hands may not be so clean after all and the critical importance of washing their hands as a way to prevent the spread of disease. http://www.bam.gov/teachers/epidemiology_hand_wash.html
"It's a SNAP" Toolkit Program materials to help prevent school absenteeism activities for school administrators, teachers, students and others can do to help stop the spread of germs in schools.
Scrub Club http://www.scrubclub.org/Kids can learn about health and hygiene and become members of the Scrub Club(tm) at www.scrubclub.org. The site features a fun and educational animated Webisode with seven "soaper-heros" who battle
nasty villains who represent germs and bacteria. Kids learn the six key steps to proper hand-washing through a webisode, hand-washing song, interactive games, and activities for kids, and educational materials for teachers are also available to download.
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