Dudley-Charlton Regional School District

1. Dudley-Charlton Regional School District H1N1 Prevention and Response “…to advance the knowledge and well being of our children and our community.”

2. Dudley-Charlton Response Participants • Dudley and Charlton Boards of Health • Dudley-Charlton Regional School Committee • Dudley Fire and EMT Service • Dudley Police • Charlton Fire and EMT Service • Charlton Police • Harrington Hospital • Local Emergency Planning Board

3. PURPOSE • Review DPH and DESE guidance concerning H1N1 and to review surveillance and preventative measures. • Background Information – Current District Response • MPH guidance • Vaccination information • Answer questions and comments

4. Why the focus on schools?Confirmed Cases of H1N1 Influenza in MA, as of 9/3/09 Percentage of confirmed cases • 1399 confirmed cases • Median age 14 yrs • 63% of confirmed cases ≤ 18 years • 13% hospitalized • 11 H1N1 attributable deaths • 36 child deaths in US; 80% > age 5 • Southern US now seeing increase in cases <5 5-11 12-18 19-25 26-44 45-64 65+ Age Group in Years Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health

5. Student Education • Classroom teachers and nurses collaboratively planned and delivered lessons on coughing etiquette, appropriate hand washing and the importance of staying home when sick • Health and physical education teachers have delivered lessons throughout October focused on preventative measures to stay healthy • Coaches are delivering the same message to all athletes participating in fall and winter sports • Schools will display prevention posters in key areas such as entrances, cafeterias and offices

6. Surveillance SPRING 2009 • Student dismissals due to Influenza-like illness (ILI) were monitored • Collaborated with DPH, local boards of health concerning confirmed cases and messages to families FALL 2009 • CDC, state and local boards of health not requiring H1N1 confirmation testing • H1N1 confirmation testing recommended for high-risk cases only (e.g. hospitalization) • Student dismissals due to ILI are monitored • Weekly review of student/staff absenteeism at each building

7. DPH/DESE Guidance H1N1 Symptoms: similar to normal human seasonal influenza ► Fever 100.4 ► Coughing or sore throat ► Headache/body aches ► Runny or stuffy nose ► Chills ► Fatigue In addition to the above symptoms, a number of H1N1 flu cases reported vomiting and diarrhea.

8. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COLD, SEASONAL FLU & H1N1 SYMPTOMS

9. Exclusion period • Must stay home for 24 hours after no fever and no fever-reducing medications. • Most can expect to stay home about 4 days: 3 with fever plus one more day • Fever with influenza can last 2-5 days or more

10. VACCINATION GUIDANCE H1N1 initial target groups as identified by the CDC: • Pregnant women • Household contacts/caregivers of infants < 6 months • Children and young people, age 6 months to 24 years • People age 25 to 64 with certain medical conditions • Health care providers and emergency medical services personnel VACCINATION AS PROTECTIVE MEASURE: • Seasonal flu vaccination is being recommended for children/young people between the ages of 6 months and 18 years old • H1N1 flu vaccination is recommended for children/young people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old • Participation is voluntary • The District has partnered with local health/safety officials to develop a coordinated plan for the administration of vaccine to school-age children and families

11. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS