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Welcome to the Stanislaus County Office of Education Crisis Planning Preparedness website.
Our goal is to provide you with easy access to pertinent information and resources as they relate to schools throughout Stanislaus County.
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Information
The health and safety of child(ren) is a high priority for the Stanislaus County Office of Education. As we begin the traditional school year, the potential threat of spreading H1N1 (flu virus) increases. Although the severity of the H1N1 virus is currently similar to seasonal flu it is affecting younger people and there is no vaccine for it yet.
The Stanislaus County Office of Education continues to work closely with county health officials in monitoring and responding to this situation at the local level. This year schools are reporting attendance data directly to the Stanislaus County Health Services agency which is monitoring school absence rates. Local health officials are working closely with state and federal health authorities.
In addition schools will follow the key federal guidelines below which are supported by our state and local public health officials:
- Students and staff should stay home when sick: Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs.
- Separate ill students and staff: Students and staff who appear to have flu-like illness will be separated from others until they can be sent home. The guidelines also recommend that they wear a surgical mask, if possible, while waiting to go home.
- Enforce hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette: Students and staff should wash hands frequently with soap and water, and always cover noses and mouths with a tissue, shirt sleeve or elbow when coughing or sneezing. If soap and water is not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers should be used.
- Maintain routine cleaning: School staff will routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.
- Encourage early treatment of high-risk students and staff: People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with influenza-like illness should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very important for people at high risk because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths. People at high risk include those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems, or have neuromuscular diseases.
What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?
Symptoms of H1N1 virus are similar to those of regular human flu and include;
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Some people have reported diarrhea & vomiting associated with swine flu
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