Editorial

Reasoned advice takes over from early swine flu 'panic'

Monday, August 17, 2009

The "panic" -- if that's what we can call it -- that surrounded H1N1 flu has subsided to to the point that the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has stopped counting.

As of last week, HHS will follow new federal policies for tracking seasonal flu, and is reporting that Nebraska has a "sporadic" level of flu.

As of the week before, Nebraska had 413 cases of H1N1 flu reported since the outbreak began in April.

The new system probably is a smart move. Note we called it "H1N1" instead of the initial name, "Swine flu," which caused irrational fears among domestic and foreign consumers, to the point that some countries stopped importing American pork, and even killed domestic herds.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken a more measured approach as well, issuing guidelines for schools that usually stop short of closing down facilities, which is what often happened last spring.

Some highlights of the CDC guidelines for the 2009-10 school year:

Recommended school responses for the 2009-10 school year

Stay home when sick:

Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs.

Separate ill students and staff:

Students and staff who appear to have flu-like illness should be sent to a room separate from others until they can be sent home. CDC recommends that they wear a surgical mask, if possible, and that those who care for ill students and staff wear protective gear such as a mask.

Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette:

The new recommendations emphasize the importance of the basic foundations of influenza prevention: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap and water when possible, and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).

Routine cleaning:

School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.

Early treatment of high-risk students and staff:

People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with influenza-like illness should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very important for people at high risk because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths. People at high risk include those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems, or have neuromuscular diseases.

Consideration of selective school dismissal:

Although there are not many schools where all or most students are at high risk (for example, schools for medically fragile children or for pregnant students) a community might decide to dismiss such a school to better protect these high-risk students.

More information is available at Department of Health and Human Services swine flu page:

http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/H1N1Flu/

or

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/schoolguidance.htm

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