Updated H1N1 Flu Information May 6, 2009

Health officials have now identified a probable case of H1-N1, also known as Swine Flu, in Minnehaha County.  This case is an adult with a child that attends the YWCA South Daycare program in Sioux Falls and that center has closed while they wait for confirmation. The Brandon Valley School District is interested in knowing about any connections our families might have with the children who receive care at the center. We are working to proactively intervene to slow the progress of this disease.

The CDC is taking a cautious approach and its current guidelines could result in school closures if a confirmed case is found in our school. We encourage you to have a plan in place for your family in case "social-distancing" becomes necessary in our community. For planning purposes, the CDC recommends closing school for 14 days if a closure becomes necessary.

The District is working closely with the Minnehaha Health Department and the South Dakota Department of Health to monitor this issue.  If further actions become necessary, the school will notify parents/guardians.

The Center for Disease Control recommends the following steps to protect your family and help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses such as the flu:
•    Keep children who are sick at home. Don’t send them to school.
•    Teach your children to wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
•    Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
•    Teach your children to stay at least three feet away from people who are sick.

If you have questions, please contact your school nurse or your healthcare provider. For more information about H1-N1, visit: siouxfallsflu.org or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm.

Following are the new recommendations from the CDC:

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 guidance related to this outbreak may reopen.

Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever 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 separate 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 illness.

Ill students should not attend alternative child care or congregate in settings other than school.

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 educational activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

Students, faculty and staff should stringently follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue isn’t available), frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.