Swine Flu Advisories & Information
10/28/09 - USA Hockey H1N1 Guidelines
Guidelines Regarding H1N1
USA Hockey, with guidance from its Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Stuart, has issued the following information regarding the H1N1 infection, including some basic recommendations to reduce the likelihood of spreading the infection.
USA Hockey recommends:
2.
Regularly wash hands.
3. Clean
workout gear for each practice/competition.
4.
Keep gloves on during the traditional
handshake with opponents.
This
year’s influenza virus strain has particularly targeted children and young adults.
Transmission of influenza virus may occur from the day before the onset of symptoms and
during the 5-7 days that these symptoms are present.
Additional information regarding H1N1 is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1Flu/
10/22/09 - Memo from the National Federation
Memorandum
TO:
State Association Executive Directors
FROM:
Robert F.
Kanaby, NFHS Executive Director
SUBJECT:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
– H1N1
DATE:
October 22, 2009
A flu vaccine
is the
first and most important step in protecting against influenza infections. Currently there
are TWO flu
vaccines available. These include the seasonal flu vaccine and a 2009 H1N1 vaccine to protect
against the 2009 H1N1 flu
virus (sometimes called
“swine flu”). Both of these vaccines are safe, effective and important to have
administered, especially among high-risk populations.
Each day brings
the possibility of new developments regarding the 2009 H1N1 flu. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants to
direct our partners to information that can be readily forwarded and shared with team
members, colleagues, family and friends. Our goal is to help you disseminate current and
developing flu information as quickly as possible.
For information
about the 2009 H1N1 vaccines, please visit H1N1 Flu Vaccination Resources. For information
about seasonal influenza vaccines, visit Preventing Seasonal Flu with
Vaccination.
CDC has made it
easier to answer your questions about the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu by providing
free H1N1 resources in the form of
ready-made, multi-language brochures, flyers, podcasts and more.
We encourage you to share some of the materials available for distribution and use by CDC’s partners. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Thank you.
9/1/09 -- Information from the Deparment of Public Health
Following are
links to documents for you, your staff, parents and the community with the most
up-to-date guidance surrounding H1N1, developed by the Department of Public Health.
This set of attachments includes multiple translations of six documents, which have all
been updated from what we distributed to you last spring:
1. Letter from Commissioners Chester and Auerbach to school officials
2. Fall 2009 flu guidance for school officials and school health professionals. Note: This guidance has changed significantly from last Spring, so please read carefully.
3. Letter to parents from Commissioners Chester and Auerbach (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
4. Frequently asked questions (English, Spanish, Portuguese). Note: This document can also be used as talking points with parents and the media.
5. Flu sympton checklist (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
6. Educational flyer suitable for distribution and posting (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
All these documents are also posted on the DOE website at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/pandemic/swineflu/
Additional information: posted 8/18/09
The following
are some swine flu-related website pages that have been posted by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. They may be of interest to you and your membership.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/workplace.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/K12_dismissal.htm
Interim CDC
Guidance for Public Gatherings in Response to Human Infections with Novel Influenza A
(H1N1):
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/public_gatherings.htm
Additional information: posted 5/12/09
Click links below to view some recently developed documents to help school and childcare officials explain the cases of H1N1 influenza and respond to parent and staff concerns.
- Updated guidance
- Talking points for school and
childcare officials
- A fact sheet for parents
- Information for parents on talking with
their children about the influenza outbreak
Material is also posted at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/pandemic/swineflu/.
Heidi Guarino / Chief of Staff / Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Updated information: 5/6/09
Following are links to the latest H1N1 influenza guidance from the Department of Public Health for schools. Please note that at this time they are advising schools with confirmed or suspected cases to remain open and to focus their energies instead on keeping sick students and staff at home and encouraging everyone to frequently wash their hands.
Swine Flu: Advisory for Schools and Childcare Settings updated 5-5-09
Swine Flu: Updated guidance on school closures 5-4-09
Swine Flu: Parent Fact Sheet 5-4-09
Additional Information: 4/30/09
The following is the direct link to the CDC on the H1N1 Virus: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Click Here to view a guidance document on swine flu from the Departments of Public Health, Elementary and Secondary Education and Early Education and Care. This document details recommendations for response if cases are confirmed, and general preparedness planning for schools, districts and childcare facilities.
Included in this memo is a Department of Public Health recommendation that once a case is confirmed in a school, that school should shut down for at least seven days. Given the seriousness and complexity of this rapidly-changing situation, Commissioner Chester has committed to considering any Time and Learning waiver requests from districts in which schools are forced to close and miss days for this reason.
In collaboration with the Department of Public Health, we would like to share with you the information that was recently sent to school nurses, child care providers and school health centers.
1. a swine flu fact sheet
2. information
for school and childcare settings
Please note that schools are not recommended to exclude asymptomatic children who may have come back from a trip to Mexico or other location where there are confirmed cases. The attached documents highlight the regular exclusion recommendations for sick students.
Additionally, The Department is currently reviewing and updating information on school closures due to the Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus as well as the general Pandemic Flu. Additional information is posted at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/pandemic/.
From NASSP - 4/28/09
Department of Ed. Addresses Swine Flu in Schools
The U.S. Department of Education hosted a conference call on April 27 to provide guidance
for identifying, containing, and preventing swine influenza in school facilities.
Participants were briefed by officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the White House National Security Council. Although there are currently only a few
dozen confirmed cases of swine influenza in the United States, the CDC has released
recommendations for nonpharmaceutical community mitigation, which includes schools and
childcare facilities. First and foremost, dismissal of students should be strongly
considered in schools with a confirmed or suspected case of swine influenza. Click here
for more information.
Related Item: Many “Hundreds of
Kids” May Have Swine Flu in New York