San Joaquin schools preparing for flu pandemic

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   San Joaquin schools preparing for flu pandemic

Schools are being directed by health officials to prepare for a possible influenza pandemic.

San Joaquin County and school health leaders are eyeing a conference and health week luncheon next Tuesday on how to prepare for "pretty much anything," including an outbreak of bird flu or other possible widespread flu outbreaks, said Dr. Karen Furst, the county's health officer.

Federal health officials in Washington warned earlier this month that school districts should be prepared for the possibility of a bird flu outbreak. That includes having plans to quarantine students, setting a procedure to keep districts operating if schools are closed for weeks at a time, and learning how to ease the worries of parents who depend on school meals to feed their children. Federal officials have noted that most schools do not have plans to handle a major outbreak of a potentially deadly flu virus.
San Joaquin County schools have emergency plans for major catastrophes but not specifically for a flu pandemic.

"I haven't done anything on the flu. I'm taking cues from the public health department at this time," said Caroline Thibodeau, health services director for Manteca Unified School District. "We have a mass disaster plan in place and a plan to immunize (in the event of a flu or disease outbreak), but nothing else is in place."

In Stockton Unified School District, Health Services Director Gayle Asuncion said she has been involved in several county pandemic flu preparation meetings, and implementation of a plan is pending.

In Africa, Asia and Europe, 170 people have been reported to have contracted the H5N1 strain of avian flu; 100 have died. The virus is spread only by direct contact with infected birds. There have been no reported cases of bird flu in the United States, but health officials believe it is important to be prepared for a pandemic.

"If avian flu does mutate to be transmitted from person to person, it is important for the business community and schools to start thinking in terms of what they will do ... to handle having a large portion of staff out at the same time," Furst said. "We are due for pandemic flu in America, whether it's the bird flu or something else."

Furst said people with flu symptoms should not assume they have avian flu. Seasonal flu viruses come every year and cause symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose and muscle aches.

School officials hope next Tuesday's conference will get them on the right track to prepare for pandemic flu.

"We'll implement whatever they ask us to do," Linden Unified School District Superintendent Ron Estes said. "We have a procedure if we have a flu outbreak: hand washing, applying hand sanitizer, reminding kids not to share food and, if they're sick, to stay home."

Contact reporter Keith Reid at (209) 367-7428 or kreid@recordnet.com

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: San Joaquin schools preparing for flu pandemic Posted: March 28 2006 at 3:29am
	San Joaquin schools preparing for flu pandemic Schools are being directed by health officials to prepare for a possible influenza pandemic. San Joaquin County and school health leaders are eyeing a conference and health week luncheon next Tuesday on how to prepare for "pretty much anything," including an outbreak of bird flu or other possible widespread flu outbreaks, said Dr. Karen Furst, the county's health officer. Federal health officials in Washington warned earlier this month that school districts should be prepared for the possibility of a bird flu outbreak. That includes having plans to quarantine students, setting a procedure to keep districts operating if schools are closed for weeks at a time, and learning how to ease the worries of parents who depend on school meals to feed their children. Federal officials have noted that most schools do not have plans to handle a major outbreak of a potentially deadly flu virus. San Joaquin County schools have emergency plans for major catastrophes but not specifically for a flu pandemic. "I haven't done anything on the flu. I'm taking cues from the public health department at this time," said Caroline Thibodeau, health services director for Manteca Unified School District. "We have a mass disaster plan in place and a plan to immunize (in the event of a flu or disease outbreak), but nothing else is in place." In Stockton Unified School District, Health Services Director Gayle Asuncion said she has been involved in several county pandemic flu preparation meetings, and implementation of a plan is pending. In Africa, Asia and Europe, 170 people have been reported to have contracted the H5N1 strain of avian flu; 100 have died. The virus is spread only by direct contact with infected birds. There have been no reported cases of bird flu in the United States, but health officials believe it is important to be prepared for a pandemic. "If avian flu does mutate to be transmitted from person to person, it is important for the business community and schools to start thinking in terms of what they will do ... to handle having a large portion of staff out at the same time," Furst said. "We are due for pandemic flu in America, whether it's the bird flu or something else." Furst said people with flu symptoms should not assume they have avian flu. Seasonal flu viruses come every year and cause symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose and muscle aches. School officials hope next Tuesday's conference will get them on the right track to prepare for pandemic flu. "We'll implement whatever they ask us to do," Linden Unified School District Superintendent Ron Estes said. "We have a procedure if we have a flu outbreak: hand washing, applying hand sanitizer, reminding kids not to share food and, if they're sick, to stay home." Contact reporter Keith Reid at (209) 367-7428 or kreid@recordnet.com