The H1N1 Virus H1N1 flu is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in the U.S. in April 2009, and has spread to many countries around the world. Though also known as swine flu, the virus cannot be transmitted by eating pork products or from pigs to humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has said that the H1N1 is no more severe than seasonal flu.The symptoms for the seasonal flu and H1N1 are the same: fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. What is the school system doing? We are working closely with the Forsyth County Department of Public Health to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. Schools will not be closed unless a large number of students or faculty are ill, interfering with the school's ability to function. Teachers and other staff members will be watching students to see if they exhibit flu symptoms. Students with flu symptoms will be kept separate from other students and sent home.
You can view our letter to parents (to be sent home the week of Sept. 7)
here in English
and
here in Spanish
, and our message to
employees here
. A new letter is being sent home the week of Oct. 5.
What can parents do?
Teach children to wash their hands often with so ap and water. Parents can set a good example by doing this themselves. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill some germs, but they are not as effective as washing properly with soap and water. Teach children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues. People should cover their coughs or sneezes using an elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable. Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected. Do not send children to school if they are sick. Make sure you and your children receive both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine. You can contact your health care provider to determine how to do this. The health department also will hold vaccination clinics, and we will communicate these dates and locations to you when they are available. Where can I learn more about H1N1? These sites are very helpful:
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