Staff and Students Take Preventive Measures to Stop the Spread of Sickness Around the School
By Erika C.
Since the April 2009 outbreak of the H1N1 flu, more commonly known as the swine flu, a new counting method has figured the number of deaths in the US near 4,000, of which 540 are children. H1N1 is now being called a pandemic and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) will be updating the toll every three to four weeks.
The disease is caused by the influenza virus. It is most commonly spread by coughing, sneezing, and being in close contact with people. The rates of infection are highest among young people between six months and 24 years of age. If the person infected has a weak immune system or has other chronic disorders, this kind of flu can become very serious, and even deadly.
As the cold weather approaches, people all over the country are looking for ways to get themselves and their families vaccinated. The CDC has not been able to keep up with demands, and the waiting list for the H1N1 vaccine is unbelievably long. Dr Anne Schuchat of the CDC said that 41.6 million more doses of swine flu vaccine have recently been made available, but that is still only 10% of what is needed.
Reported cases of the swine flu have surged in the northern hemisphere and people are lining up in clinics and health care centers to try to protect themselves.
The symptoms of the swine flu are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. It is very much like the common flu in its symptoms and is easily mistaken for the seasonal flu.
At The Family Foundation School, the staff and students have also been affected by the pandemic. The health office is filled with sniffling kids with fevers. “The close setting we have here is more high risk. We are trying to provide preventive medications,” said Melissa Dunlap, a nurse who has ordered H1N1 vaccinations from the CDC.
At this point FFS has received shipments of both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine. The school offered students the H1N1 nasal flu mist and the flu shot, as well as the seasonal flu shot and mist.
FFS sent letters to parents making them aware that the vaccine was available and that with consent, their student could receive the shot or the mist. The school has held two clinics so far offering both the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine. “We will continue until everybody is protected,” said Dunlap.
Mike Argiros, President of FFS, is sure that the school is doing all that is possible to keep students healthy. “I am confident that we have, within our group here, the skills and knowledge to effectively relate to this problem,” he said.
The Health Office is also keeping people who are infected away from the other students, and reminds everyone to take simple measures to stay well like washing hands regularly, not sharing food or drinks, and avoiding close contact with those who are infected.
