September 16, 2009

Dear Dessau Diamondbacks,

I am writing this letter in an effort to keep the Dessau Middle School Community informed about a recent increase in student absences. After speaking with health professionals, we are aware that H1N1 may be the likely strain of flu causing students to be ill along with seasonal allergies and strep throat. Please note that the recovery time for students who have been absent has been relatively quick and the symptoms are no worse than the seasonal flu. Specifically, symptoms associated with those who have Novel H1N1 flu are fever, coughing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or a runny nose and sore throat.

As Seasonal Flu and Novel H1N1 flu spreads in Texas, the Pflugerville ISD continues to take every possible precaution to help ensure the health and safety of its students and staff. As we monitor illness trends, proactive measures to protect the health of our overall student body will match the intensity of the reported symptom trends. Our nurse screens every student that comes back to school after being sick and we are making good use of hand-washing and sanitizer all over the building.

What can families do?

• Stay home when you have the flu to protect others from getting sick. Students with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher will be sent home and will not be allowed to return to school until they have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications.

What is Pflugerville ISD doing?

• New reminder messages have been posted at all campuses reminding people of the importance of covering coughs, cleaning hands, and taking a flu break from school if they are ill.
• The District Health and Safety Team meets regularly to monitor the spread of flu, identify protocols to mitigate the spread of the disease, and plan for what procedures and programs are needed should a school or school activity be cancelled to reduce the spread of the disease. Based on the current severity of the disease, school closure is not recommended for disease control.
• The district has already placed an order for vaccines for both the Seasonal flu and the Novel H1N1 flu. Information on how to access these vaccines will be made available as soon as possible.
• As an extra precaution, guests to campuses, including parents, visitors and volunteers, are asked to sanitize their hands upon arrival at the campus and to reschedule visits and appointments if they are ill.

Please see the back of this document for more tips on staying healthy. If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the school at 594-2600 and ask to speak to your child’s grade level principal.

Sincerely,

Diana Sustaita

Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs

Good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that help treat and sometimes prevent the flu, but the best defense is a good offense.

• Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

• Stay home when you are sick.

Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. See your doctor and follow their advice. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Clean your hands.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water is not available, then use hand sanitizer. Remind students to do this before and after restroom visits, before and after eating, when arriving at school in the morning and before leaving in the afternoon, before and after playing outside or going to gym.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

• Practice other good health habits.

Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.