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About the H1N1 Flu
Last spring, the H1N1 flu (previously known as swine flu) began circulating the globe and is still a concern. Flu can be easily spread from person to person, and the swine flu appears to target children through young adults. Symptoms are similar to those associated with the seasonal flu that impacts thousands of individuals yearly. Health officials say the vast majority of people who have contracted H1N1 flu have recovered without needing medical treatment.
Due to the number of flu-like illnesses both locally and nationally, physicians no longer routinely test for H1N1. According to county health officials, the test to confirm a suspected case of H1N1 flu requires specimens to be sent to an out-of-town lab and may take several days for confirmation. Although physicians are not routinely testing for H1N1, health officials are assuming that most flu-like illnesses are H1N1, due to the nature of the tests conducted last spring. They are treating H1N1 just like the seasonal flu.
Throughout the district, Pattonville is experiencing varying reports of students who are absent with illnesses, some who are reporting flu-like symptoms. In most schools, the number of absences mirrors what usually occurs during the normal flu season.
What is Pattonville Doing?
Pattonville is taking the following precautions to help minimize the spread of illness in our schools.
- Pattonville is working with the St. Louis County Health Department to share information and remain proactive in its approach to minimizing the impact of this illness in our schools.
- Hand sanitizer is available in all classrooms and other locations throughout Pattonville schools.
- Custodial crews continue to do routine cleaning of our facilities and provide extra cleaning and disinfection when needed, based on reports of illnesses.
- Pattonville schools publicize and emphasize healthy practices such as hand-washing and sneezing in elbows and tissues to minimize the spread of illness.
- Pattonville will provide free H1N1 vaccinations to students in kindergarten through 12th grade when vaccinations become available from the St. Louis County Health Department. Parents may sign a permission form to have their children vaccinated at school if they wish. A letter will be sent home when all information is available regarding these vaccinations.
- Health officials do not recommend closing schools due to confirmed or suspected cases of H1N1. This flu is treated like any other seasonal flu that impacts schools every year. In the case of the seasonal flu, schools typically close only if school functioning is disrupted. Our schools will continue to hold classes, and we are regularly monitoring student and staff attendance to determine if school functioning becomes disrupted to the point that we cannot hold school.
How Can You Help?
- Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
- Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues or by using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
- Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
- Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
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