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Will H1H1 Hit North Dakota Schools?
9.10.2009H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu") is a respiratory illness caused by the Influenza A virus that can be transmitted among humans. In April 2009, a surge of cases was documented by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The main mode of transmission, similarly to seasonal influenza, is personal contact: touching, coughing, sneezing, and kissing.
Whether the U.S. will experience a pandemic this fall when schools are back in session is a hot topic right now. NDEA recommends that all educators:
- 1. Find out what your school and school district plans are for H1N1 outbreaks.
- 2. Learn about what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend regarding schools' responses during the coming school year: www.flu.gov/plan/school/schoolguidance.html.
- 3. Teach your students to be aware of the symptoms of this flu and of taking proper precautions at school and home to avoid the virus.
- 4. Stay up to date on what your local health department, school board, and the CDC have to say.
The most important thing to keep in mind is proper hygiene, respiratory "etiquette," and routine cleansing, e.g., hand-washing. You can learn a lot at the NEA Health Information Network, a good source of information for members at http://www.neahin.org/.
