H1N1 SLSD Pandemic Flu Plan
PANDEMIC FLU ACTION PLAN
BACKGROUND:
In late March and early April 2009, cases of a novel H1N1 flu virus (previously called Swine Flu) were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. To date, all U.S. states have since reported cases of H1N1 flu infection in humans.
In June of 2009 the World Health Organization declared a pandemic of the new virus. Infections with the H1N1 virus can be mild to severe. Though the virus can be unpredictable, at this time it doesn't appear as though the virus has changed significantly and most cases in the U.S. have been similar to seasonal flu. Certain groups are at increased risk of complications from H1N1. These include pregnant women, infants, children and young adults up to 24 years of age, and those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or compromised immunity.
One way H1N1 differs from Seasonal Flu and why it is of interest to schools is that school age children are considered at higher risk than our aging population. It is expected that higher rates of absenteeism will occur due to those who are ill with the virus or those who are caring for others who are ill.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of H1N1 in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include: fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C), sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1.
SOUTH LANE'S RESPONSE
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued new guidance on the H1N1 virus for schools in an effort to balance the risks of illness among students and staff with the benefits of keeping students in school. This year's flu season will present additional challenges due to the new H1N1 influenza strain that is currently circulating. However, there are many ways to prevent the spread of flu and activities the district may undertake to minimize the impact of staff and students who may be ill or caring for those who are ill.
Communication
- School nurses will identify students at higher risk for health complications should they contract the flu. Appropriate school staff members will notified of high risk students under their supervision to ensure quick and timely responses to any suspected flu-like symptoms.
- Parents are asked to routinely update contact information with the schools.
- Schools will regularly send home reminders/forms for parents to update their emergency contact information.
- South Lane will keep informed of the latest H1N1 guidance from Lane County Public Health, the Oregon Department of Education, and CDC.
- South Lane will regularly update parents and staff with the latest H1N1 guidance from Lane County Public Health, the Oregon Department of Education, and CDC.
- South Lane will provide and disseminate updated vaccine information as it becomes available.
Vaccinations
The most important step toward preventing the flu is vaccination for both seasonal flu and H1N1. The CDC will determine a priority list of those eligible to be vaccinated when the first doses of H1N1 vaccine become available. Those at highest risk will be the first to receive the vaccine.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all eligible people get vaccinated for seasonal flu.
- School age children are in the priority group for H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. The vaccine is currently under development and is expected to be delivered in late October or early November. Oregon will continue to receive vaccines thereafter.
- At this time it is expected that two doses, administered three weeks apart, will be required of the new H1N1 vaccine. Research is ongoing as to whether a one-dose vaccine will be effective.
- CDC recommends school age children be vaccinated against both seasonal flu and pandemic H1N1 flu.
- While school staff members are not in the first round of priority groups for pandemic H1N1 vaccine, it is expected that the immunization of students will slow the spread of H1N1 virus and that the vaccine for healthy adults will be available later in the season.
General Infection Control Measures
- Teachers will explicitly teach good habits of health (hand washing, cover your mouth and nose, etc.) as appropriate for grade levels. Students and staff should cover their mouth and nose by using a tissue or their sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Hand should be washed after coughing or sneezing.
- Time and supplies will be provided to students to properly wash their hands as often as necessary. While soap and water are always preferable, alcohol based (60%) hand sanitizer will be available as an alternative.
- Staff will be good role models by practicing good hand hygiene and covering their coughs and sneezes.
- Remind students not to share items such as water bottles, food, and other personal items.
- Examine and reduce school wide practices where items are shared among students. This might include sharing pens/markers, manipulatives, other materials, etc. For necessary shared items, staff will examine when and how to clean items between student use.
Custodial Implications
- Custodial staff will clean designate and clean "high traffic" areas regularly during the school day. High traffic areas will differ by building, but they include surface areas such desktops, hand-rails, lockers, door knobs, and drinking fountains. Areas such as hand-rails and doorknobs will cleaned several times daily while other areas will be cleaned on a daily basis.
- Custodial staff will make cleaning solutions available to staff when requested. This will assist staff in spot-cleaning high traffic areas when custodial staff are not available.
- Hand sanitizer and tissue will be made available to staff for classroom use.
INDICATIONS-What to look for and what to do when you suspect illness
- Know your high-risk students.
- Keep an eye out for symptomatic students, and send them to the health room for further evaluation.
- Notify office staff if you are sending a symptomatic student.
- Symptomatic students at risk for wandering (elementary age students) may need to be escorted from the classroom to the health room.
- Separate ill students and staff from others; however, students need to be supervised at all times. If symptomatic students/staff are unable to be separated, call school nurses to determine whether they should be masked.
- Parents will be notified if a student develops a fever (100°F or 37.8°C), chills, cough, sore throat, headache, or muscle aches.
- Students and staff who show signs of illness will be sent home as soon as possible. Symptomatic students are not to be transported home by district transportation.
- Personal protective equipment (masks, gloves) will be available for persons caring for those who are symptomatic at school and provided for the symptomatic person if tolerated.
- Students and staff with flu-like symptoms will be asked to stay home at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever. This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medication that contains ibuprofen-Advil, Motrin, or acetaminophen-Tylenol). Caution: Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be given to children or teenagers who have flu; this can cause a rare, but serious illness called Reye's Syndrome.
HIGH RISK POPULATIONS
If you are pregnant, have asthma, diabetes, or other conditions that put you at higher risk for complications from the flu, you should speak with your doctor as soon as possible if you develop symptoms of flu-like illness. People at high risk of flu complications who develop flu can benefit from early treatment with antiviral medicines. In addition, an underlying health condition may place you in a higher priority status for receiving the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. Speak with your health care provider for further information.
WHAT IF THE FLU BECOMES MORE SEVERE?
If the flu becomes more severe, we may take additional steps to prevent the spread such as conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school. For now, we will do what we can to keep our schools functioning as usual.
Resources
State of Oregon website
www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/swineflu_investigation.shtml
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
The Oregon Department of Education:
H1N1 Resources
Influenza in Oregon [Website]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Website]
Oregon Department of Education H1N1 [Website]
Flu Prevention Flier [PDF]
Flu Guide for Parents [PDF]