Relax.... It's The Interim

 

New school closing Regs and more cases.

 

 

PLAY... GUESS THE STATE.

 

CDC confirms Portage County H1N1 virus case, another in Holmes County

 

 

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It gets around but so far nothing like 30,000 US deaths from seasonal flu.

 

 

CDC calls this the........ Interim... 

 

which means...

(wikipedia)

An interim is a temporary pause in a line of succession or event.

 

It is frequently used as an appositive noun, in which case it serves as an adjective

 

 

meaning

 

"in between," "transitional," or "temporary."

a temporary pause ... we get it.     prepare just in case.

 

and...

 

...School closure is not advised

 

for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1)

 

New information on disease severity warrant revision of the school closure guidance. Most U.S. cases have not been severe and are comparable in severity to seasonal influenza.  CDC and local and state health officials will continue to closely monitor the severity and spread of this novel H1N1 influenza outbreak.

 

 

 

At this time, CDC recommends the primary means to reduce spread of influenza in schools focus on early identification of ill students and staff, staying home when ill, and good cough and hand hygiene etiquette.  Decisions about school closure should be at the discretion of local authorities based on local considerations, including public concern and the impact of school absenteeism and staffing shortages.

Recommendations

 

 

School closure is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.

 

 

 

Schools that were closed based on previous interim CDC guidance related to this outbreak may reopen.

 

 

Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care for at least 7 days even if symptoms resolve sooner.
Students, faculty and staff who are still sick 7 days after they become ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.

 

 

 

Students, faculty and staff who appear to have an influenza-like illness at arrival or become ill during the school day should be isolated promptly in a room separate from other students and sent home.
Parents and guardians should monitor their school-aged children, and faculty and staff should self-monitor every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illness.

 

 

 

Ill students should not attend alternative child care or congregate in settings other than school.

 

 

School administrators should communicate regularly with local public health officials to obtain guidance about reporting of influenza-like illnesses in the school.
Schools can help serve as a focus for educational activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

 

 

 

Students, faculty and staff should stringently follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue isn’t available), frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.

 

 

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

 

 

What to Do If You Get Flu-Like Symptoms at

 

 

 

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