Preventative Measures and Information regarding H1N1 virus (Swine Flu)
...includes parent letter that was sent home
April 30, 2009
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
There are everyday actions people
can take to stay healthy.
· 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 hands
cleaners are also effective.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or
mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact
with sick people.
· Influenza is thought to spread mainly
person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected
people.
· If you get sick, CDC recommends that
you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to
keep from infecting them.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Iowa
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/common/press_releases/2009/20090427_alert_swine_flu.asp
Click here for the letter that was
sent home with all students regarding the virus
IDPH Press Release --
4/27/2009
Iowa on Alert for Swine Flu
Physicians and the public advised
to be watchful for disease symptoms
The Iowa Dept.
of Public Health (IDPH) is urging Iowans and health care providers
to be on alert for swine influenza in humans. As of today, no cases
of swine flu have been identified in Iowa; however, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 20 cases of the
disease in the U.S. The confirmed cases are in California, Kansas,
New York, Ohio and Texas. The U.S. cases appear linked to hundreds
of cases reported in Mexico.
Everyone must be alert in this
situation," said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. "A
public health emergency has been declared across the country. This
means local health departments, health care providers and state
health investigators in Iowa and across the nation are all watching
closely for any signs of the disease."
The swine influenza virus appears
to be spread from one person to another. Swine influenza viruses
are not transmitted by food, and a person cannot get swine flu from
eating pork products. As with seasonal influenza, Iowans are urged
to help prevent the spread of swine flu by taking the following
precautions:
- When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve (if you do not have a tissue). Throw used tissues in a trash can.
- After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.
- If you are ill with a respiratory illness (coughing and sneezing), stay home from work or school so you don't make others sick.
- Avoid close contact with others who are coughing or appear to be ill.
- Symptoms of swine influenza include fever
(greater than 100 F), along with cough, sore throat, headache and
body aches, and extreme tiredness. Some people have also reported
diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. If you have any of
these symptoms, contact your health care provider.
If you have recently visited Mexico or areas in
the U.S. where swine influenza cases have been confirmed, and
develop swine flu symptoms within seven to ten days after your
return, it's important to contact your health care provider, and
remind them to contact local public health officials.
Severe illness and deaths have
been reported with swine flu infection in people in Mexico, however
cases in the U.S. have been much milder. IDPH continues to work
closely with local health departments and the CDC to monitor the
situation. If you would like more information about swine
influenza, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ <http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/>
.
