Will Swine Flu Follow Kids Back To School?

By Eliza Hallabeck

Stay home when sick, wash hands frequently, and cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing. Those are key points Health District Director Donna Culbert emphasized Tuesday, September 1, as ways to help prevent contamination and the spread of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu. The virus is expected to make a resurgence with many school districts now back in session.

The Associated Press has reported that colleges across the country are seeing spikes in the number of students with suspected cases of swine flu as dorms fill up and classes begin for the fall semester.

Connecticut is one of many states that no longer test for the H1N1 disease in suspicious cases, and health officials across the country have been treating each flu case as if it is H1N1 to help stem the spread of the disease.

Ms Culbert also spoke to attending school district faculty and staff at the school year’s convocation on Monday, and during her roughly 20 minutes before the gathered teachers and staff she stressed the importance of properly sanitizing hands, and knowing how to sneeze and cough, she said on Tuesday, September 1.

In the event of a reappearance of the H1N1 virus, Ms Culbert said she could not emphasis enough “how important it is that we are in ready mode.”

For roughly the first one to two months of the school year Ms Culbert said the only thing the community will have in terms of combating the illness will be in preventative measures, like the ones listed above.

Ms Culbert said there will be a big push locally and regionally for both seasonal flu vaccinations, which will happen earlier, and for H1N1 vaccinations, which will arrive in the state in late October.

According to Ms Culbert, vaccinations, or shots, for the seasonal flu are being strongly encouraged as it is likely both the seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu will be affecting the Newtown community, and occurring simultaneously. Information about H1N1 vaccination is still being developed.

More seasonal flu clinics will be scheduled in the future, but already on the schedule are clinics at the Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, on October 6, 13, 20, and 27, from 9 am until 12 pm. For more information on these clinics call the Senior Center at 270-4310. The Health District, Ms Culbert said, will continue to work with the local Visiting Nurses Associations to establish more clinics.

Ms Culbert said it is particularly important for seniors to receive the seasonal flu vaccination, because of the priority placed on students and teachers receiving the H1N1 vaccine. 

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, students and staff demonstrating flulike illness should stay home until at least 24 hours after no longer having a fever or signs of a fever. The CDC recommends this be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications, which contain ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Symptoms of flu include fever, aches, chills, and tiredness.

Also according to the CDC, schools may act as a point for flu to spread. In 2009 so far, the largest number of cases of the H1N1 flu has been in people between the ages of 5 and 24. 

While attending a recent statewide school and health official meeting at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, both Newtown Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson and Ms Culbert agreed with the general statement that came from the meeting; sick children should stay home and well children should attend school.

On Tuesday, September 1, Dr Robinson said the hope is for schools not to be shut down. The environment at a school would have to be at a “tipping point” with student and staff attendance at a low, she said, or, like in the case of Reed Intermediate in the last week of school for the 2008-2009 school year, there would have to be an accelerated rate of suspected cases of any disease to cause a school to close.

It is also important, Dr Robinson said, for parents to notify the school if their children are exhibiting any kinds of symptoms.

Dr Robinson said the school district has continued and will continue to work closely with the Health District to monitor the schools during the year.

Recommendations For Everyone

The Health District asks residents to actively work to protect themselves and their family by taking everyday steps to prevent getting or spreading the flu:

Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throwing away the tissue after use.

It is also important to wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective, and the CDC recommends using a 60 percent alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth, because germs spread that way.

Practice other good health habits like getting plenty of sleep, being physically active, managing stress, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating nutritious foods.

Further information and advice can be found at www.ct.gove/ctfluwatch.

For information on how to volunteer with the Health District call its office at 270-4291 or email newtownhd@earthlink.net.

Contact information for individual schools in the district, and posted information on flu updates can be found through the Newtown Public School’s website at www.newtown.k12.ct.us.