letter regarding swine flu and schools

This letter is posted on the Orange County Schools Web site:

The State Health Department and the Department of Public Instruction have published the following letter regarding preventative measures against Swine Flu for distribution to all schools in North Carolina. Please rest assured that we are monitoring the situation very closely and will do whatever it takes to protect the health and safety of our students. Additional information is available on our website, www.orange.k12.nc.us/safety_Flu.html.

Dear Parents and Guardians:
This letter is to inform you that the State of North Carolina has entered a heightened surveillance stage resulting from the presence of a swine flu virus that is making people sick in several states and Mexico. Although, to date, mostly mild illness has occurred in the United States, we realize that many people are worried and we hope this letter will help address your concerns. We believe students can safely attend classes, so schools will remain open at this time. Individual schools might have to close if staff or students are diagnosed with swine flu.
At this time, the state and local health departments have advised us that students can continue to come to school, as long as they are not sick and do not think they have flu symptoms. Flu-like symptoms include: fever (over 100 degrees F.), feverishness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or stuffy nose. Additional symptoms may be experienced with swine flu, including muscle pain, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Flu spreads easily.
If you suspect your child is getting the flu, it is important that he/she does not
attend school or go anywhere else, such as group childcare, the mall, or sporting events, where other people would be exposed to flu germs. It is also important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the flu and protect others from infection.
• Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds is ideal (That’s about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice).
• Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes all work well as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed of
properly. Always read and follow label instructions when using hand sanitizer.
• Teach your children to keep their hands away from their face and avoid touching their mouth, nose, and eyes.
• Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the
inside of their elbow. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve—not your hands!
• Help your children to learn these healthy habits by setting a good example; always do them yourself.
If we all practice good hygiene, health officials believe we can limit the spread of swine flu in our schools at this time. We are following CDC standards regarding best cleaning practices for infection control in our buildings and classrooms.
While the current situation does not warrant school closure, if swine flu continues to spread and more students become ill, it may become necessary to close schools for a period of time. Our nursing and administrative staff are working with public health officials to monitor the situation here and all decisions will be made in consultation with them. We will inform parents immediately if the situation changes and it becomes necessary to close schools.
If schools are closed, please do not make arrangements—such as sending children to a friend’s home or group childcare—that will put them in close contact with other children. It is important to plan ahead. Have a family discussion now to consider options in advance of the event of a school closing.
Please stay informed by paying attention to media reports. You may also get information at www.cdc.gov, www.ncpublichealth.com, or CARE LINE, the toll-free number that North Carolinians can use to get answers to their questions. The CARE LINE number is 1-800-662-7030. Information will also be available on our website, www.orange.k12.nc.us.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children and our schools healthy.