The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that influenza illness, including illness associated with the novel influenza A H1N1 virus is ongoing in this country. This virus is not "going away" as some people seem to think.
You can combat fear with common sense – stay informed and take simple precautions. Hygiene Helps! Wash your hands and clean countertops, door knobs, and other surfaces that hands often touch. If you are sick, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
The experts have communicated that food safety is not an issue.
Health officials continue to recommend that schools regularly clean and disinfect surfaces as a normal practice. Education Secretary Duncan said that the Department was working to remove all impediments to creating safe and healthy schools.
SDA offers these common sense reminders:
Seek information from credible sources
Stay informed about your communities intervention plans
If you have a sore throat, fever or cough, stay at home
According to CDC, this severe form of influenza known as H1N1, commonly being called swine flu, has health officials around the world concerned. Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people; and there is no risk to eating pork. Symptoms in people include fever, cough and sore throat.
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Contact your health care provider to learn if flu testing or medication is needed.
Click on the links below to view and download a variety of health and hygiene materials to help you prepare for cold and flu season! If you prefer to order hard copies*, click here to use the order form. Tell us how you will use these in your schools and we will waive the service fee during cold and flu season! (*quantities limited)
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