Bethel School District is working in partnership with the Pierce County Health Department to monitor and prepare for possible cases of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 (swine) flu.

To help protect students and staff, we will be periodically disinfecting high traffic areas throughout the school day. Additional supplies of hand sanitizer and masks have been purchased in case we experience an outbreak of the flu.

What is H1N1 (swine) flu?

H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu”) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of H1N1 flu was underway.

How do you catch H1N1 (swine) flu?

Spread of H1N1 (swine) flu primarily occurs through contact with a person with H1N1 (swine) flu. Human-to-human spread of H1N1 (swine) flu occurs in the same way as seasonal flu, through coughing or sneezing of infected people

What should I do if I get sick with flu like symptoms?

If you live in areas where people have been identified with new H1N1 flu and become ill with flu-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care. If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.

What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people?

The symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 (swine) flu. In some cases, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 (swine) flu infection.

In children emergency warning signs that require urgent medical attention include: • Fast breathing or trouble breathing • Bluish or gray skin color • Not drinking enough fluids • Severe or persistent vomiting • Not waking up or not interacting • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that require urgent medical attention include: • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Severe or persistent vomiting • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

What should I do if my child is showing symptoms of the flu?

If your child becomes ill, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• If your child has a fever (100 degrees F or higher) and sore throat or cough, then your child may have the flu. Keep your child home until all symptoms are gone AND for 24 hours thereafter. Other flu symptoms may include: runny nose, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea. • But if your child only has one of the following: a fever (with no other symptoms), vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat or cough (with no fever), it may not be the flu. Keep your child home from school and childcare until symptoms are gone for 24 hours.

If your children are sick and must stay home, please make care arrangements their care; do not send them to school or daycare, where they can further spread the illness.

Here are some tips to help keep you and your family safe.

• Stay home if you get sick. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep the virus from spreading. • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. • Get your flu shots. This year, two vaccines are available to protect families against both seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine) flu.

For more information about the seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine) flu, please visit the following web sites:

http://www.flu.gov/

http://www.doh.wa.gov/

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

http://www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=482

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