Community Unit School District 95
School Health Services
Lake Zurich High School Middle School South Middle School North
Phone 847-438-5155 Phone 847-540-7070 Phone 847-719-3600
Nurse Fax 847-540-4190 Fax 847-540-9438 Fax 847-719-3620
Charles Quentin Isaac Fox May Whitney Sarah Adams Spencer Loomis Seth Paine
PHONE 847-438-2420 847-540-7020 847-438-2351 847-438-5986 847-719-3300 847-438-2163
FAX 847- 438-4766 847-540-7032 847-438-2696 847-438-7740 847-719-3320 847- 438-2528
May 8, 2009
At this time, CDC recommends the primary means to reduce spread of influenza in schools is to focus on early identification of ill students and staff, staying home when ill and good cough and hand hygiene etiquette. Decisions about school closures should be at the discretion of the local authorities based on local considerations, including public concern and the impact of school absenteeism and staffing shortages.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
· Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever 100 or more with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care for at least 7 days, even if symptoms resolve sooner.
· Students, faculty and staff who are still sick 7 days after they become ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.
· Students, faculty and staff who appear to have an influenza-like illness at arrival or become ill during the school day should be isolated promptly in a room separated from other students and sent home.
· Parents and guardians should monitor their school–aged children, and faculty and staff should self-monitor every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illnesses.
· School administrators should communicate regularly with local public health officials to obtain guidance about reporting of influenza-like illnesses in the school.
· Schools can help serve as a focus for education activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
· School closure is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.
· Schools that were closed based on previous interim CDC guidelines related to this outbreak may reopen.
· Schools do not need or should not require children or staff with flu-like symptoms to be seen by a medical provider if they have a mild case. The IPDH is only recommending lab testing for severely ill hospitalized patients.
· It is unnecessary at this time to require lab testing, doctor’s note or antiviral treatment to allow a student or staff to attend the school/ child care center after the student or staff member have been in home confinement for the Center for Disease Control recommended 7 day period and are symptom free.
· This means that schools and child care centers will need to rely on staff and parent self-reporting and duration of illness.
…..Received from the CDC and the Lake County Health Department on 5/7/09.
District 95 health offices and attendance centers will continue to monitor students’ and staff attendance on a daily basis as needed.
For further information please go to the following web-pages. www.ready.illinois.gov, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ Or contact the Communicable Disease program at the Lake County Health Department (847) 377-8130.
Required notes for re-entry still apply to other communicable diseases. As usual the “request” for a doctor’s note can still apply at the health office or attendance center’s discretion. Thank you for all your support and cooperation considering this matter. Any questions contact your student’s building health office.
Sincerely,
Andrea Bonkowski
District Supervising School Nurse
847-540-2785