September 10, 2009

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Renton School District Prepares for Swine Flu, Releases Information

The Renton School District continues to work closely with Public Health officials to be prepared for the coming flu season and the H1N1 (Swine flu) virus.

According to a recently released estimate from a presidential panel, H1N1 Swine flu could infect half the U.S. population this fall and winter, hospitalizing up to 1.8 million people — more than double the number that occur in an average flu season.

Public Health Seattle & King County says that school-age children are among the priority groups targeted for vaccination against H1N1, and is working with numerous primary care providers and health care organizations throughout King County to prepare to offer immunizations.

A vaccine should be available in October and will be available free of charge. Providers might charge an administration fee, but the majority of school age children are eligible for insurance that will cover this fee. To be fully protected, students must receive two immunizations three weeks apart.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that decisions about school dismissal and closures should be made by local school districts. Decisions should balance the risk to students from disease with minimizing school disruption and economic hardship to parents.

Key recommendations for students, families and school staff:

• Stay home when sick
• Stay home for a period of 24 hours after fever resolves
• Separate ill students and staff
• Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette (cover mouth and nose with tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing)
• Clean hands after coughing or sneezing: Wash with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaner
• Routine cleaning more frequently, with usual cleaning agents
• Early treatment for high-risk students and staff.
  

Additional recommendations:

• Actively screen students and staff for illness
• Permit high risk students and staff to stay home
• Ask students with ill household members to stay home
• When warranted, extend the exclusion period to at least 7 days from illness onset