The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website has several useful links:

Q&A page for vaccines 

       http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm

Q&A page for vaccine Safety

       http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_safety_qa.htm

Q&A page for vaccine safety & pregnancy

       http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/pregnant_qa.htm

Patients with Asthma

       http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/asthma.htm

H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)

Human cases of an influenza A (H1N1) virus infection that has a swine component have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. An investigation and response effort surrounding the outbreak of swine flu is ongoing on the national level and here in New Hampshire. The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include:

Some of the people who have become ill with swine flu reported diarrhea and vomiting as well. Severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported as well.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working very closely with all our State partners as well as with health officials in at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and officials in other states to monitor and respond to this outbreak of illness. The DHHS Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is performing active surveillance for any potential cases. DHHS will keep the public updated with information as it becomes available because this is a constantly changing situation.

This illness is spread from person to person and there is no risk of contracting this flu virus by eating pork. There are, however, some basic precautions that everyone should be taking to prevent becoming ill or spreading illnesses, not just swine flu are:

• Stay home from work or school if you are sick

• Cover your cough or sneezes with your sleeve
• Wash your hands frequently

 

 

The New Hampshire State Bureau of Communicable Disease Control has stated that "Any student or staff member who has a fever, cough or sore throat, or significant respiratory illness must stay home from school until AT LEAST 24 hours after the fever has returned to normal without the use of fever reducing medicine such as aspirin or tylenol."


Please let Sandy know the nature of your child's illness when you call in, and if a fever is involved please follow the state guidelines meant to limit the reach of an epidemic.  If each staff member and family follows these guidelines it will help limit our exposure to a quickly spreading flu.  Since we are such a small school, in tight confines, it is urgent that each of us follow these guidelines throughout the school year, or until such time as the state says we can ease the restrictions.  If we have an outbreak, with state medical guidance, closing the school for at least 2 days may be our only option.

 

If you wish to stay updated on this topic, please feel free to visit the link below:

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/swineflu.htm