Who is most at risk from flu?
Anyone can get the flu, even healthy people, and problems from the flu can happen at any age. However, children under the age of 5 years, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, pulmonary disease including asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders), and people age 65 and older are more likely to get complications from the flu and should contact their healthcare provider for advice.
What should families do to stay healthy?
Public health officials say families should get the vaccines for seasonal flu and H1N1 flu as early as possible. Families should continue to emphasize good health habits: staying home when ill, washing hands frequently, and covering coughs and sneezes.
When should someone stay home?
A little sniffle is not a reason to stay home, but influenza is!
Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to
themselves rather than sharing them with others. If a student or staff member has flu-like illness — fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C) along with symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired — he or she must stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever is gone (determined without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
People with flu also should not go anywhere else (such as childcare, the mall, or sporting events) where other people would be exposed to flu germs. At this time, public health officials say that the sick person's other family members do not need to stay home if they do not have flu symptoms.
Why the concern about flu in schools?
Students can get sick with flu and easily spread it to other students
and their families. So far, with 2009 H1N1 flu, the largest number of
cases has been in people between 5 and 24 years old.
Will schools be closed?
School dismissal is unlikely unless high absenteeism makes it hard for a school to function. This was different last spring, but the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) changed its school closure guidelines after public health officials learned more about the new flu strain.
What are schools doing?
School-based health centers are partnering with Lane County Public Health to administer H1N1 flu vaccines to our community as vaccine is available. School staff are teaching and modeling hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Sick kids and staff will be sent home. School offices are monitoring absentee rates and flu-like illnesses among students and staff. The school district will remain in close contact with public health officials for guidance.
What do “hand hygiene” and “respiratory etiquette” mean?
Hand hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers also are effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth — keep hands below your neck.
Respiratory etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.
What about cleaning surfaces?
Flu viruses do not survive for very long on hard surfaces, such as desks and door knobs. Public health officials say it is not necessary to disinfect such surfaces beyond routine cleaning.
Are there other things schools can do?
Our prevention practices are based on recommendations from public health officials. If there are severe flu conditions this school year, public health officials may recommend additional practices to prevent the spread of flu in schools.
How can people stay informed?
• Eugene schools: www.4j.lane.edu/flu
• Lane County information: Lane County Public Health
• Oregon information: flu.oregon.gov
• National information: www.flu.gov
• Oregon Flu Hotline: 1-800-978-3040
• Health concerns? Contact your healthcare provider.
