Hi all,Just wanted you to be aware of a letter we sent home to Western parents (and Glenville parents at Western) today. Parents and staff across the district will be made aware of the situation by tomorrow referencing the letter and documents attached.
Kim Eves
Director of Communications
Greenwich Board of Education
290 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
http://www.greenwichschools.org/
Phone: 203-625-7415
e mail: kim_eves@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Fax: 203-869-8003
GREENWICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
May 20, 2009
Dear Parents,
I wanted to let you know that today at a Western Middle School, Grade 6 Nature’s Classroom trip, nineteen (19) students became ill with fevers. Their parents were contacted to bring them home from the trip. An additional thirty-six (36) students have visited the infirmary complaining of headaches and fatigue. After consultation with District and Town health officials, we decided to err on the side of caution and canceled the remainder of the trip. All students will return home Wednesday night.
All parents of the nineteen students were advised to have their children seen by their local
pediatrician prior to returning to school. We know that many people will be concerned about swine flu.
As is indicated in the attached document, flu-type symptoms do not necessarily mean a diagnosis of swine flu. As is standard practice, if your child exhibits any symptoms of illness, please keep them at home and/or have them seen by a doctor.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates if warranted.
Sincerely,
Dr. Betty J. Sternberg
Superintendent of Schools
Greenwich Public Schools
Havemeyer Building
290 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830-6521
Tel: (203) 625-7400
FAX (203) 618-9379
Betty_Sternberg@Greenwich.k12.ct.us
To parents, students and staff of Connecticut schools
Probable and confirmed cases of novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) have been identified in Connecticut. We expect thatwith time, additional cases will be identified here and elsewhere in the country.
New information on disease severity prompted health experts to revise the school closure guidance that was initially published. The majority of U.S. cases have been less severe than initially reported from Mexico with fewer hospitalizations and deaths. CDC and local and state health officials will continue to closely monitor the severity and spread of this novel H1N1 influenza outbreak.
The most important message at this time is not new: Students and adults who are sick should NOT come to school. In particular, stay home if you have flu symptoms: fever and cough or sore throat, sometimes with runny or stuffy nose, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea. To avoid infecting others, please stay home and stay away from others for at least 7 days or until all symptoms have gone away for at least 24 hours, whichever is longer. Make decisions about when to seek medical care as you would under normal circumstances, and if you have flu symptoms, seek care if you have a fever for three or more days and seem to be getting sicker.
On May 5, 2009, CDC updated its guidance to reflect a more developed understanding of the H1N1 virus.
Based on this information, CDC changed its recommendation to focus school-based efforts on early identification of ill students and staff, a recommendation to stay home when ill, and good cough and hand ygiene etiquette as the primary means to reduce spread of influenza in schools.
Decisions about school closure should be at the discretion of local authorities based on local considerations, including public concern, the impact of school absenteeism, and staffing shortages. Like other flu viruses, novel H1N1 flu spreads from an ill person to others mainly through coughing or sneezing.
Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or rubbing their eyes. People with novel H1N1 flu are thought to be able to spread the infection to others for approximately 7 days after becoming sick.
Children and adults who are well and without symptoms of flu do not need to be excluded from school or work on the basis of recent travel to an area with novel H1N1 flu or close contact with someone with novel H1N1 flu.
However such persons should closely monitor their health and should not attend school or work if they develop any symptoms. If symptoms develop while at school or work, arrange to return to home immediately.
It is very important to teach our children what we all need to do to prevent spread of the virus:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with the crook or your elbow or a tissue.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If water is not
nearby, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.
• For more information, please see our attached
o Novel H1N1 flu (swine flu): Facts for families of school-aged children
o Novel H1N1 flu (swine flu): When to keep your child home from school
o Flu Symptom Check List for Families and School Staff
More information, including frequent updates, is available online:
• Connecticut Department of Public Health H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) web site: http://www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children and our schools healthy.
Sincerely,
Matthew L. Cartter, MD, MPH
State Epidemiologist
When to Keep Your Child at Home
How can we limit the spread of H1N1 virus (swine flu)?
The most important thing is to keep sick people away from healthy people. So if your child is sick, you must keep your child home. Staying home when sick stops the spread of the flu and helps the sick person get well. Answer these questions every morning before sending your child to school or daycare: 1. Does your child have a fever (100º F or 37. 7ºC)? If you don’t have a thermometer, feel your child’s skin with your hand. If it is much warmer than usual your child probably has a fever.
2. Does your child have a sore throat, cough, body aches, vomiting, or diarrhea?
When should my child go to the doctor?
Call your health care provider if your child is ill enough that you would normally see a health care provider. Use the same judgment you would use during a normal flu season. If you would not usually see a health care provider for the symptoms your child has now, you do not need to see a health care provider.
For more information and on-going updates:
• Connecticut Department of Public Health H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) web site:
http://www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
If you answered “yes” to both questions above, your child might have the flu. Keep your child home from school for 7 calendar days, or until symptoms are gone for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
If you checked “yes” to only one of the questions above, keep your child home from school until
symptoms are gone for 24 hours.
