Vancouver, WA— Two cases of H1N1 swine flu have been reported in Clark County. Both are male students, one at Skyridge Middle School in Camas, the other at Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School in Vancouver.
“These cases are not a surprise, given the growing numbers of cases reported in Washington and the rest of the country. Fortunately, these students are both recovering and we wish them each a speedy return to good health,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, regional health officer. “Public Health will continue to work with schools and other community partners and agencies in Washington and the Portland metropolitan region to minimize the spread of H1N1 swine flu and keep citizens informed.”
In keeping with guidelines established by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington Department of Health, Clark County Public Health, the Vancouver School District and the Camas School District are working with both schools to ensure that all students with flu symptoms stay home for at least seven days, even if they feel better sooner. Students who are still sick seven days after falling ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after they have completely recovered. Ill students should not attend alternative child care.
If a child or adult is ill with other symptoms, they should stay home at least one day to see how the illness develops and until completely well for 24 hours. A few cases of H1N1 influenza begin with nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. “The most important thing you can do is to keep your child home if he or she is ill. If your child is so sick that you would normally seek medical care, please do so,” said Dr. Melnick. A list of free or low-cost health care providers is provided on the Clark County Public Health Web site at www.clark.wa.gov/public-health.
The symptoms of H1N1 swine flu are very similar to ordinary seasonal flu. Each morning, parents and caregivers should check their children and other family members for flu symptoms. Parents should ask: Does my child have
§ A sore throat, bad cough or runny nose?
§ Body aches or chills?
§ Vomiting or diarrhea?
§ A fever of 100 degrees or higher?
If parents answer yes to two or more questions, the child may have influenza and should stay home. Here are three important things everyone can do to help stay healthy and keep others safe:
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow or upper arm.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers work too.
When ill, stay home. Seek medical care if that is what you would normally do, based on how you feel.
More information about H1N1 swine flu is available on the following Web sites:
www.clark.wa.gov/public-health
www.cdc.gov
www.doh.wa.gov
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
You may also call the Public Health Flu Information line at (360) 397-8021 or (877) 510-2772 outside Clark County.
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1 comment:
In the event you do a follow up..you might find below interesting.. .
A good blog on the topic is at www.handhygienefacts.blogspot.com includes a recent exchange of correspondences with the interim Director of the US Centers for Disease Control re: topic of hand sanitizers and the current crisis.
Suffice to say that we're reasonably fluent in the topic--and we have heard from tens of dozens of schools, large corporations, government agencies, military divisions, health care venues, etc...all saying "we don't allow alcohol-based hand sanitizers...please help!"
Jay Berkman
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