H1N1 (Swine) FLU Information
Rio Rancho Public Schools, along with state health and education officials continues to monitor the presence of H1N1 in the community, and will provide updates to families as circumstances warrant.
NM Department of Health Updates (October 14, 2009)
NMDOH Interim Flu Decision Chart (10/19/09 - this provides clear guidelines for what to do if you or your child is symptomatic...)
National Association of School Nurses ANSWER Frequentlly Asked Questions! (REALLY great info for families...)
There's a great CDC Question and Answer tool about Swine Flue! Click here to view this....
Questions and answers about H1N1 flu (“swine flu”) in Rio Rancho (en español):
The NM Department of Health (DOH) does not “swab” ill students for H1N1 unless the illness is unusually severe (very high fever or the student is ill for more than five days). But we are seeing instances of upper respiratory illness among students and staff. This is not unusual: students get colds and flu every year. However, given the prevalence of H1N1 flu around the country and its presence in our state and community, we must work under the assumption that some of the illnesses in our schools could be caused by H1N1.
Up to this point H1N1 does not appear to be more severe than other flu strains, but because the majority of younger people do not have any built-in immunity to this strain of flu, it spreads more readily. Most healthy people who contract H1N1 fully recover.As you are all aware, we are continuing to see absences associated with H1N1. The NM DOH has recommended that schools forgo the requirement of Health Care Provider notes for absences lasting longer than 3 days until H1N1 related absences subside. Most health care providers are not swabbing to confirm H1N1 and are recommending routine care to treat the symptoms and we are requiring parents to keep their children home until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
Until further notice, absences lasting longer than 3 days with a written note from the parent stating the absence was due to flu like symptoms will be excused.
In terms of how it is spread, the H1N1 virus seems to be very similar to more typical flu viruses. The same preventive measures that work against colds and the “regular” flu are key in preventing the spread of H1N1. These include:
- Frequent handwashing for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water
- Using antibacterial hand sanitizers as needed
- Practicing good cough etiquette: coughing or sneezing into a tissue (and then discarding the tissue) or into your elbow
- Avoid sharing objects (utensils, cups, bottles, telephones, pencils) with others
- Stay at least three feet away from people who are sick
The current guidance from DOH and PED is that normally healthy students need not stay home because of the presence of H1N1 in a school. PED has advised districts that subject to the state’s compulsory attendance laws, parents may not keep healthy children home from school simply as a preventive measure against contracting H1N1. Parents who wish to keep their healthy children home are obligated under the law to continue their children’s education and should contact PED and register as a home school. State law requires that schools disenroll students with more than 10 days of unexcused absences.
Parents of medically fragile students may wish to consult with their family doctor for guidance about attending school, especially if their child has underlying medical conditions. Schools will work with parents of medically fragile students whose doctors indicate they should not be in school. And of course, if a student is ill, he or she should be kept home until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication and the absence is considered excused.
Parents with questions should contact their child's school. Schools will work with parents to ensure that student's academic needs are met.
Most likely, no. The current guidance from the CDC, DOH, and PED is that schools should stay open unless the number of absences among staff and students is so high that the school cannot operate. Closing schools can be very disruptive for families and the community, since large numbers of parents of healthy children as well as sick children would have to take off work to stay home with their children. In addition to economic effects on families whose income may stop if the parent is not at work, this could impact businesses and services whose workers are absent staying home with kids. Closing schools has also not proved to be entirely effective, since students that were out of school tended to gather anyway in out-of-school settings. The Centers for Disease Control, in its guidance to school districts, notes:
“The decision to dismiss students should be made locally and should balance the goal of reducing the number of people who become seriously ill or die from influenza with the goal of minimizing social disruption and safety risks to children sometimes associated with school dismissal. Based on the experience and knowledge gained in jurisdictions that had large outbreaks in the spring of 2009, the potential benefits of preemptively dismissing students from school are often outweighed by negative consequences, including students being left home alone, health workers missing shifts when they must stay home with their children, students missing meals, and interruption of students’ education.”
Any decision to close schools would be made with the direction and guidance of DOH and PED. This guidance could change depending on the circumstances, especially if evidence develops that the virus has become more potent than it was in the spring of 2009.
The current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and NM Dept. of Health emphasizes:
- The importance of frequent handwashing, cough etiquette (coughing into your elbow), and other preventive measures in preventing not only the flu, but colds and other infectious diseases
- The importance of isolating people with flu-like symptoms and keeping students and staff who are sick home from school until they are fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication
- Vaccinating students against both the regular seasonal flu and H1N1, once a vaccine becomes available later in the fall
The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) and the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) provide direction to school districts on whether school closures are necessary due to H1N1 or any other health issue. Rio Rancho Public Schools works closely with both DOH and PED in making these decisions. The district also has reviewed its plan for dealing with pandemic illness.
We again emphasize that good hygiene is the best defense against the spread of any illness. We thank students and staff who have been conscientious about frequent handwashing and other preventive measures. There are a number of easy steps parents, staff, and students can take to limit the spread of germs both at home and at school:
- People who are sick should stay home from work or school and avoid other people until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow.
- Whenever possible, avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands. Put used tissues in a waste basket.
- Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
- Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Stay at least three feet away from people who are sick.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to keep flu germs from entering your body.
- Avoid sharing objects—such as utensils, cups, bottles and telephones. If you must share, disinfect the objects with soap and hot water both before and after using them.
Important Documents:
- Press Release on New Federal Guidelines for School Closures Due To H1N1
- State Health Office frequently asked questions regarding H1N1 (en español)
- A GOOD explanation of the difference between having a COLD and having the FLU (en español también)
- Information from the Center for Disease Control on what to do if you get flu-like symptoms
The federal Center for Disease Control is recommending that parents nationwide make plans for caring for children in the event their child’s school should need to temporarily close. In this circumstance, it is very possible that private daycare facilities and other venues would also close. While we do not at this time anticipate a school closure in Rio Rancho, we encourage parents to think ahead about how they would care for their children in the event of a temporary school shutdown.
Reported symptoms of the H1N1 (“swine flu”) are like those of the regular flu, mostly fever, cough and sore throat, and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea. Persons experiencing these symptoms who have traveled to a state or country with confirmed cases or have had contact with ill persons who traveled to these areas in the week before the onset of their symptoms should contact their family doctor or health clinic.
Need More Information?
For current information please consult the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov//h1n1flu and the Department of Health’s website at: http://www.nmhealth.org/FLU/seasonal/swine_flu.html. For general questions about H1N1 flu, call the state’s H1N1 Influenza Hotline at 1-866-850-5893. People who have symptoms may call the Nurse Advice New Mexico at 1-877-725-2552. The Department also set up a specific hotline for callers who speak Spanish: 1-800-784-0394.
H1N1 (“swine flu”) Flu Hotline – 1-866-850-5893
Nurse Advice Line – 1-877-725-2552: Persons who are uninsured or do not have a health care provider can call this number. Those with questions or concerns may contact the Rio Rancho Public Schools Nurse Coordinator’s office at 896-0667 ext. 124.
State Health Office Frequently Asked Questions about Influenza and Swine Flu prevention (en español).