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Influenza: Including H1N1. Mission CISD. What is Influenza?. An Airborne virus that is transmitted through respiratory secretions and briefly on objects. Types of Influenza. Many types Seasonal Flu- Can be different each year H5N1- Avian Flu Novel H1N1- Swine Flu. Why is Flu Significant?.
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Influenza: Including H1N1 Mission CISD
What is Influenza? • An Airborne virus that is transmitted through respiratory secretions and briefly on objects
Types of Influenza • Many types • Seasonal Flu- Can be different each year • H5N1- Avian Flu • Novel H1N1- Swine Flu
Why is Flu Significant? • Not just another virus! • There are about 36,000 deaths in the US each year from Seasonal Flu • More than 200,000 hospitalizations nationwide each year • Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What about The Swine Flu? • The novel H1N1 virus was discovered in April 2009 • While symptoms have been mild, it has presented itself differently
Seasonal Flu in Texas • Estimated to be 1.2-4.9 million cases each year • 16,000+ hospitalizations per year • 2,228 deaths per year • Source: Texas Department of State Health Services
H1N1 • June 11, 2009 the World Health Organization declared an H1N1 Pandemic • Pandemic declared because of the rapid spread of the illness, not the severity • More than 140 countries worldwide have reported cases
H1N1 • By June 19, 2009 all 50 states in the US had reported cases of H1N1 • The spread did not slow down over the summer • Many summer camps experienced a rapid spread of the virus
H1N1 • Nationwide • 6,506 hospitalizations • 436 deaths (as of August 7, 2009) • 98 Deaths from influenza among children; 30 of those related to H1N1 • Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
H1N1 • In Texas • 5,218 cases state-wide as of July 31st • 270 Hospitalizations • 28 Deaths • Source: Texas Department of State Health Services
H1N1 General Characteristics • Sudden onset of symptoms • Incubation period: ~1-4 days • Infectious period: 5+ days, starting 1 day before symptoms (longer in children)
Symptoms • High Fever • Cough and sometimes chest discomfort • Congestion/Runny nose • Body Aches • Fatigue • Headache • Sore Throat • Vomiting and Diarrhea (more common with H1N1)
Treatment • Symptomatic • Tamiflu and Relenza are name brands of prescription antiviral medications • Do not cure the flu, but lessen the symptoms • Must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms • Not commonly used for prophylaxis
Antiviral Medications are NOT a replacement for receiving the vaccine.
Prevention • HANDWASHING • Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is effective • HANDWASHING • HANDWASHING • Hand sanitizer is not a replacement for handwashing!
Prevention • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue • Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve • DO NOT Cough into your hands! • Do not share food or beverages • Avoid touching nose, mouth or eyes • Stay home if you are sick • Avoid close contact with ill people • WASH YOUR HANDS
Prevention • Take care of yourself; Drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest, exercise, eat healthy, manage stress • WASH YOUR HANDS
Prevention • Get a seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it’s available • WASH YOUR HANDS
Prevention- Vaccines • Seasonal flu vaccine expected to be available in September • One vaccine for adults and most children • Children under 9 years of age who have never received a flu vaccine receive 2 vaccines one-month apart • Available as an injection or as a nasal spray (Flumist)
Prevention- Vaccines • H1N1 Vaccination • Expected to be available Mid-late Oct. 2009 • Expected to be 2 vaccines 1 month apart • Injection • Vaccination Priority Pregnant Women Household contacts & caregivers for children younger than 6 months Healthcare & emergency medical personnel All people 6 months through 24 years of age Persons 25 through 64 years of age with high risk health conditions
Actions to Reduce Spread of Flu • Early identification of students or staff who exhibit influenza-like illness (ILI) • Staying home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of a fever reducing medicine • Practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette
Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions For School • Infection Control • Hand hygiene • Cough etiquette • Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces • Exclude students /staff that are sick • Social Distancing • Allow adequate spacing between desk in classrooms • Align desk one behind the other NOT facing each other • Suspend activities that include touching or holding hands • Have students eat breakfast and lunch in classroom during significant flu out breaks • Suspend transfer of students to others classes during significant flu outbreaks • Avoid assemblies during significant flu outbreaks
What to Expect this year • Seasonal flu and H1N1 FLU • It is not recommended to close schools due to seasonal flu or H1N1 • District will determine school closure based on the number of student and staff illnesses and absences.
What is Mission CISD doing? • Letter to go out to parents before school starts (English and Spanish) • Protect your Health Cold & Flu fliers given to all employees • Flu Immunization clinics to be held this fall at each campus • District Website has information regarding the Flu
What is Mission CISD Doing? • Posters emphasizing hand washing, cough etiquette and basic flu prevention to be visible to all students, parents & staff • Education and daily reinforcement of proper Hand washing • Custodial staff will continue to clean and disinfect campuses daily using approved agents known to kill viruses including H1N1
What is Mission CISD doing? • Nursing staff to continue flu surveillance • All students and staff presenting with flu symptoms or a communicable disease will be excluded from school/work. • Transportation will continue cleaning buses daily • Food Service will continue to work hard to keep their areas clean
Hand washing Education • Daily reminders to students to wash hands • Wash Those Hands video available in nurses office. • Nurses available to teach how to wash hands.
Communication • Please communicate concerns regarding the Flu or other communicable diseases with your nurse • Refer all students/staff with flu like symptoms immediately to the nurse for evaluation • Your school nurse is very educated with regards to the flu and other illnesses. She is a great resource! • MCISD Health Services is in communication with Hidalgo County Health Department and are involved in continuous and ongoing monitoring of the flu in our area
More Information to come • Vaccinations & vaccination clinics • Mission CISD will stay on top of H1N1 and seasonal flu and communicate information as necessary
Texas Public Health Messages • Practice good hand hygiene • Practice cough/sneeze etiquette • Be prepared to get sick • Stay home when you get sick • Get your seasonal and H1N1vaccinations • No aspirin for kids when they are sick • Get pneumococcal vaccine as recommended.
Resources • www.Texasflu.org • www.flu.gov • http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ • http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/swineflu/index.html • http://www.flu.gov/plan/school/schoolflutoolkit.pdf
Resources • Posters • http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/materials.htm • http://www.publichealth.va.gov/flu/materials/posters_hand_hygiene.asp