Swine Flu - Monticello CSD, Monticello, NY

News Item

Scientists Consider Fate of Pandemic H1N1 Flu Virus

September 2010

In the year and a half since the emergence of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, about 60 percent of the U.S. population has gained immunity to it. Can the virus that caused a pandemic continue to survive in the face of such high levels of immunity? That’s one question considered by NIAID scientists in a new commentary in the journal mBio. The authors are cautiously optimistic that pandemic H1N1 virus will follow a path like that of the virus that caused the 1968 influenza pandemic, that is, it will persist in the population but cause relatively few deaths in years to come.

The above information is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' website (a division of the Department of Health and Human Services). For more information, visit www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2010/Pages/flufate.aspx.

Update on the Upcoming Flu Season for the 2010-2011 School Year

September 2010

2010 Flu Season: A Look Ahead (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Important Information and RESOURCES about the Swine Flu (H1N1 Influenza)

January 2010

Sullivan County Health Services is offering the public FREE Seasonal and H1N1 flu shots SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE for the new brochure from the CDC about H1N1 prevention, symptoms and what to do if you get sick. (November 2009)

The Governor signed an Executive Order on October 29, 2009 declaring a disaster emergency for the State of New York involving 2009 H1N1 influenza. The order waives several laws in regards to licensed professions to expand the number of licensed personnel that may administer seasonal and 2009 H1N1 vaccinations. READ

H1N1 Update about New York State READ

ATTENTION PARENTS: CLICK HERE to read a letter from the Superintendent about H1N1/Swine Flu - November 2, 2009

ATTENTION PARENTS: CLICK HERE to read a letter from the Superintendent about H1N1/Swine Flu - September 24, 2009

With the continued attention in the news of confirmed cases of H1N1/Swine Flu, the district is providing this page as a resource for parents, staff and CDC Poster community members seeking facts and information about this strain of the flu virus. We continue to work with local and state officials, as well as monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control and the state and federal governments to ensure the well-being of our school community. Please understand that this is an evolving situation and the district will provide updated information as it becomes available.

What is H1N1/Swine Flu?
H1N1 Flu is a new influenza that is causing illness in people. It was first diagnosed in the United States in April 2009 and is thought to spread in much the same way that regular seasonal flu spreads—through coughing or sneezing by an infected person.

What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1/Swine Flu in people?
The symptoms of H1N1 Flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 Flu. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 can vary in severity from mild to severe, and may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

Should I keep my healthy children home from school as a precaution?
No. Parents do not need to keep otherwise healthy children home from school unless directed to do so by local school and health officials. However, children who are ill should not attend school. Please monitor your child for influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea and keep your child home if he/she is sick. You may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if symptoms are severe.

How long can an infected person spread H1N1/Swine Flu to others?
People with H1N1 Flu infection should be considered potentially contagious for one day before getting sick to as long as seven days following illness onset. Children and people with weakened immune systems potentially could be contagious for longer periods. CDC Poster

Is there a vaccine against H1N1/Swine Flu?
Yes, it is expected to be available in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Regions by November or December 2009. As always, a vaccine will be available to protect against seasonal influenza.

What should I do if I or my children become ill?
If you or your children become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider particularly if you are worried about the symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you or your children are sick, stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading illness to others. As a parent, it's recommended that you have a plan in place to care for your children if they become ill and must stay home.

It is important for to keep the following information in mind:
• The district has an adopted Pandemic Flu plan which sets forth the guidelines to follow. CLICK HERE to READ
• Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Director Dr. Edward Escobar supervises the school nurses and monitors illnesses within the district. He also works closely with the Sullivan County Department of Public Health Nursing Services and the school physicians on matters of public health.
• The district routinely monitors attendance and visits to school health offices for patterns of illness and symptoms which includes follow-ups with outside health agencies.

To decrease the spread of a communicable disease, there are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. The following precautions are recommended:
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. In order to kill germs, health officials recommend washing long enough to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. Using alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid people who are ill
• Stay home from work or school if you are sick
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze or spit and dispose of the tissue in a covered trash bin. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into the crook of the elbow. CDC Poster
• Keep hands away from your face
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean shared spaces such as phone receivers, keyboards, steering wheels and office equipment often
• Refrain from sharing personal items such as drinks, forks, spoons, toothbrushes and towels

New policy guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the H1N1 virus - intended for K-12 schools, teachers, administrators and parents - will be posted and updated continually at the following link:
www.flu.gov/plan/school/schoolguidance.html

Click here for a Q&A for school leaders and teachers that discusses educational continuity from the school administrator's standpoint.

The CDC has also created a health-focused toolkit for teachers and parents at www.flu.gov/plan/school/toolkit.html and www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/ and www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2009-10/parents_guide.htm

Swine Flu Internet Resources:
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Swine Flu (H1N1) page: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
• New York State Department of Health: www.health.state.ny.us
• New York State Department of Health: Swine Flu Questions and Answers
• New York State: www.ny.gov
• New York Statewide School Health Services Center (NYSSHSC) www.schoolhealthservicesny.com/h1n1.cfm
• New York State Department of Education: http://usny.nysed.gov/swine-flu-info.html
• Sullivan County: Department of Public Health Nursing Services
• Orange-Ulster BOCES Preparedness web site
• Capital Region BOCES http://www.capregboces.org/swineflu/swinefluinformation.htm
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: www.hhs.gov
• U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/index.html
• U.S. Government's Pandemic Flu site: www.pandemicflu.gov
• U.S. Government's Webinar on Pandemic Flu: www.pandemicflu.gov/news/panflu_webinar3.html
• U.S. Department of Education's Examples of Emergency Plans: www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/sampleplans/index.html

Information on properly cleaning childcare facilities to avoid the spread of H1N1 Flu:
www.epa.gov/oppad001/influenza-disinfectants.html
http://nrckids.org/CFOC/HTMLVersion/Chapter_3.html#1076310

For more information by phone:
• Monticello Schools PPS Director Dr. Edward Escobar: 845-794-0128
• Sullivan County Public Health Director Carol Ryan: 845-292-5910, ext. 6
• NY State 24-hour Question Hotline: 1-800-808-1987