Schools

During August 2009, CDC released its Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 school year. The guide is designed to reduce exposure to flu (including H1N1) without major disruptions at school. The CDC no longer recommends that schools be closed only because H1N1 flu is diagnosed in a student or school employee.

Recommendations

Stay home when sick: Those with flu-like illness (fever 100° F or greater, plus at least cough or sore throat) should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs. Parents should be encouraged to keep sick kids home. School staff should be encouraged to stay home if ill.

Separate ill students and staff: Students and staff who appear to have flu-like illness should be sent to a room separate from others until they can be sent home. They should wear a surgical mask, if tolerated and mask is available.

Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette: The foundations of influenza prevention are simple but important: along with staying home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap and water when possible, and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available). Restrooms should be appropriately stocked with soap and paper towels. Consider hand sanitizer in classrooms and cafeteria. Allow students time to wash. Actively promote hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

Routine cleaning: School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.

Early treatment of high-risk students and staff: People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with influenza-like illness should speak with their healthcare provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very important for people at high risk because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths. People at high risk include those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems, or have neuromuscular diseases.

Consideration of selective school dismissal: Although there are only a few schools where all or most students are at high risk (for example, schools for medically fragile children or for pregnant students), the local health department in collaboration with local school authorities might decide to dismiss such a school during an outbreak to better protect these high-risk students.

Consideration of school-based vaccination clinics: Both seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 flu vaccine are recommended this year. Details about the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine will not be decided until DCHD knows more about the amount of vaccine that will be available. School-aged children are among the target groups for the vaccine, so in-school vaccination is a likely option. School administrators are encouraged to begin considering how they would handle parental acceptance forms. H1N1 vaccination will NOT be mandatory.

If H1N1flu increases in severity, additional measures may be recommended.

Wash hands often | Cover coughs and sneezes | Stay home when sick