Education 101: Swine flu for school year 2009-2010

July 17, 11:31 AM

On July 9, the Obama administration warned Americans to be ready for an aggressive return of the Swine Flu virus in the fall.

Swine Flu, also known as influenza A (H1N1), originated in Mexico. Although the original warning at the announcement of this flu last April were mere travel warnings, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is now ready to call this virus a pandemic. http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5067-Education-in-the-News-Examiner~y2009m4d27-Los-Angeles-schools-prepare-for-Swine-Flu

Furthermore, on June 11, 2009, a pandemic was declared by an international health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO), for the H1N1 Swine Flu. http://www.who.int/en/ A pandemic is defined as "a sudden outbreak that becomes very widespread and affects a whole region, a continent, or the world." http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4751

The CDC has issued a warning for all schools, from preschool to colleges and universities, suggesting guidelines for schools to consider in the event that an outbreak is suspected. http://www.cdc.gov/

As a means in which to quarantine and prevent spread of this infectious disease, the CDC recommends all education facilities to close "as an option to lessen the risk of infection" and to prevent the spread to other community members if there is a suspected outbreak of this flu.

The CDC also asks teachers and staff to pay close attention to the signs of the flu and have those children removed from the school population and sent home. Meanwhile teachers and staff should also stay home when ill and make a lesson plan to show students "good cough and hand hygiene etiquette." Schools should also "sanitize frequently-touched surfaces, (such as desks, doorknobs, computer keyboards, toys) routinely."

According to health care professionals, early detection is the key in battling the spread of any disease. Anyone with symptoms should go to their physician for a nose swab to determine the strain of flu. Physicians are already required to report confirmed cases to the LA County Health Services, however, a proactive approach of notification can make a big difference in a community.

THIS FALL A NEW OUTBREAK OF THE SWINE FLU IS ANTICIPATED AND COULD BE RESISTANT TO ANTI-VIRAL DRUGS.

According to the CDC and WHO, there will be more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths associated with this pandemic in the United States over the summer and into the fall and winter. This fall's new season of the Swine Flu H1N1 virus, in conjunction with the regular seasonal influenza viruses, pose the potential to cause significant illness expecting hospitalizations and deaths during the U.S. influenza season.

Symptoms: The Swine Flu H1N1 symptoms to watch for include including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue as well as nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

The new flu shot: The CDC has isolated the new H1N1 virus, and there are reports that the Illinois based pharmaceutical company, Baxter, is working tirelessly to finalize and test the new vaccine for the fall. However, Baxter admits that it cannot keep up with the demand and they have ceased taking any new orders for the vaccine. If tests prove the vaccines to be safe and effective, flu shots will be available starting in October.

School starts in September for most of our children and the flu shots will not be ready until October. Therefore, there will be about one month of children in close quarters who are unprotected from the flu. Here are the steps that you can take and teach your children to prevent contracting or spreading the flu:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Certain countries are at the beginning of their flu season such as Australia, Chile and Argentina. The alarm bells went off when three initial cases of the flu in those countries were resistant to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

Health officials in the United States fear that there exists a Tamiflu-resistant strain of the virus currently spreading silently in the United States. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/health/10flu.html?bl&ex=1247284800&en=7d10bb085fb2733a&ei=5087%0A

On June 12, a case involving a teenage girl who flew to Hong Kong from San Francisco revealed a serious case of the Swine Flu. What makes this case notable and alarming is that authorities in Hong Kong proved "that it had a mutation, known as H274Y on the neuraminidase gene, making it resistant to Tamiflu, a neuraminidase inhibitor." The suggestion of this mutation points to a strong probability that this girl contracted the "already resistant virus from someone else, presumably in Northern California."

Soon to be announced by the United States health officials, is a new promotion to ready its citizens for a pandemic and Tamiflu resistant flu for this season. In the works, is a US contest partnered with Youtube awarding prizes for community members sharing how their workplace, school or community is preparing for a possible flu outbreak. Some contingency plan suggestions are homeschooling preparation or for offices, a work from home readiness program.