MC parents sent swine flu letters

Madison County school officials are taking extra precautions to ward against a virus that continues to spread across the world, and into Virginia.

A public health emergency was declared in Virginia last week following the ongoing spread of the H1N1 flu virus – more commonly known as swine flu – a respiratory disease that causes regular outbreaks in pigs as well as less common infections in people.

“At this time we haven’t heard of any confirmed cases here in Madison,” Madison County Public Schools Supervisor of Special Services Susan Aylor told The Eagle Monday.

At that point, Aylor had not been informed of any Madison County residents suspected to have the flu either, she said. At press time, there were three confirmed cases of swine flu in Virginia.

“Even though there is no reason to believe we will be impacted by this flu, we are taking precautions,” according to a letter sent to parents of Madison County Public Schools students May 1.

Madison County Public Schools is “committed to actively decreasing the potential risks in our school community,” and “in order to provide a safe and clean school environment,” has taken the following steps:

• Increased faculty and staff awareness by providing information on the importance of good hygiene and hand washing.

• Increased basic instruction to students and staff regarding proper hand washing.

• Increased custodial cleaning efforts in school buildings.

The county school division is following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines regarding school closings and other actions to be taken in the case a student or staff member is diagnosed with this specific strain of flu, Aylor said.

“School closure can be considered with one or more ‘laboratory confirmed’ cases [of the swine flu],” she said.

If a student or staff member is suspected to be infected with the virus, school officials will not immediately notify the public, but rather inform the local health department, who is then in charge of releasing information about local instances of the virus to Madison County residents, according to Aylor.

When asked whether the schools would close if a suspected case of the swine flu virus arises, Aylor responded, “We will look at it on a case by case basis and work with the local health department.”

The supervisor of special services said that the school board’s headquarters had not received many calls from parents regarding the flu, but that individual schools may have handled some inquires.

The letter sent home to parents encourages those interested in receiving additional information about the swine flu virus to call the Virginia Health Department’s swine flu call center at 1-877-275-8343.

The state health department is encouraging individuals to take the following steps to reduce the spread of the virus:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

• Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.

• Try to avoid contact with sick people.

• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

There is medication available for the treatment and prevention of infection with the swine flu virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control. If you have flu-like symptoms, contact your family physician or the Madison County Health Department for treatment by calling (540) 948-5481.
For information about swine flu, visit the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.