EMERGENCY PLANS
SEVERE FLU OUTBREAK
As you may recall during Spring, 2009 the world experienced an
outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus. In the last several months at least 20
Catholic schools in nine different states closed because of the H1N1 virus.
In June, 2009 the World Health Organization officially declared us to be in a
global pandemic related to the H1N1 flu virus. This essentially means that
this virus has spread to enough areas of the world to be considered global.
Although this virus did not cause severe illness in most people this spring,
it could have more severe effects this fall and winter.
The H1N1 virus has been shown to affect school-aged children
disproportionately, and children are known to be highly likely to transmit
flu viruses, especially in school and other group settings. Scientists and
public health care personnel are concerned that the H1N1 virus may persist
into the fall, potentially as a more severe strain causing more serious and
life-threatening illness. The Department of Health and Human Services is
taking the steps necessary to secure H1N1 flu vaccine for possible use in the
fall. If a vaccination program is initiated, however, the vaccine will not be
available until several weeks after the school year begins.
Following are the steps MICS is asking parents to take to begin non-
pharmaceutical interventions to prevent disease transmission to protect the
students.
*Promote good hand hygiene at home and school (proper hand washing
techniques).
*Students with fever and flu-like symptoms do not come to school.
Students will need to go home if fever and flu-like symptoms occur at school.
*Parents will need to make plans should their children become sick
and need to stay home or in the event the school is forced to close.
The school will work with local and/or health departments on school
closure (if needed). Parents will be notified as soon as possible should the
school need to close via website, Edline and a letter home.
Updated 8/5/09
