Flu fact sheet - schools

What Schools Need to
Know About Preventing The Flu
the Spread of.
About Flu
Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Infection withinfluenza viruses can result in illness ranging from mild to severe and to life-threatening complications. Five hundredout of 100,000 children with high-risk conditions (such as heart disease or asthma) and 100 out of 100,000 otherwisehealthy children aged 0 to 4 years who are infected with the flu will be hospitalized for complications each season.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of flu include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffynose, and muscle aches. Other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are much more common amongchildren than adults.
Spread of the Flu
The flu is spread when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends the flu virus into the air. The
virus enters the nose, throat or lungs of a person and multiplies.
Treatment of the Flu
Antibiotics like penicillin will not cure the flu. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. Over-the-counter
medications may relieve symptoms of flu. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for children is recommended for both children
and adults. Decongestants, cough suppressants, and use of a humidifier can provide symptomatic relief. In addition
to flu shots, three antiviral medicines are available by prescription that will help treat the flu and its symptoms, and
help prevent the flu from spreading in your body. The three antiviral medicines are: Tamiflu, Flumadine and Symmetrel.
Preventing the Spread of the Flu in Schools
While vaccination against the flu each fall remains the primary way to prevent this disease, the following measures
may help prevent flu in school settings.
Remind students and staff to clean their hands, and make sure they have the supplies to do so.
Wash hands several times a day using soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds (this is generally aroundthe time it takes to sing the ABC's). Alcohol-based hand rubs also may be used. Dry hands with paper towelsor automatic hand dryers if possible. In school, allow regular breaks for the students and teachers to washhands. Young children should be instructed and assisted to ensure proper hand washing. Restrooms shouldbe checked regularly to ensure that soap and paper towels are always available.
Remind students and staff to cover noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing, and have tissues
readily available.
The flu can be spread from coughs or sneezes. Make sure tissues are available in all classrooms andcommon areas, such as libraries or lunchrooms. Students and staff should cover their mouths when coughingand use a tissue when sneezing or blowing their noses. Tissues should be thrown away immediately followingproper hand washing (alcohol hand gels may be used in the classrooms to minimize disruption).
Encourage sick students and staff to stay at home.
Sick students and staff should stay home from school until they have been without fever for 24 hours to helpprevent spreading illness to others.
Work closely with your local health department, especially if making plans regarding school closure.
Schools can assist the local health department with reporting outbreaks or unusually large numbers of fluabsences as a way to help understand the impact of the disease on the community. Any decisions aboutclosing a school due to increased flu activity should be made in consultation with local and state healthdepartments. It is unknown whether school closings are beneficial in controlling the spread of flu.
Good Health Habits
The following steps may help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like flu: • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands to protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Quick Tidbits
Do NOT give aspirin to a child or teenager who has the flu.
Encourage children to cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently, and keep hands away fromeyes, nose and mouth.
A sick child is advised to stay at home during the first days of illness when symptoms are most severeand the infection is most contagious. Children can return to school when symptoms are improving andno fever has been detected for 24 hours.
Any employee, student, teacher, or staff suspected of having the flu should not attend school.
Staff and students (especially those with medical conditions and anyone else who wants to lower their risk ofgetting the flu) should get the flu shot. Remember, it is never too late in the flu season to be vaccinated.
Schools should be extra-vigilant that ill students be excluded from sports activities, choir or any activities thatmay involve close contact, since transmission of the flu may be easier in these situations. All students andstaff should avoid sharing glasses, water bottles, drinks, spoons/forks, etc.
School buses, because of the enclosed space, may allow for easy spread of the flu. Tissues should beavailable on the buses, and students should be encouraged to cover nose and mouth while coughing orsneezing. Disinfect commonly handled interior surfaces (i.e. door handles, hand rails, etc.) between loads ofstudents, if possible.
In the school, clean commonly used surfaces such as door handles, handrails, eating surfaces, desks, etc.,frequently with disinfectant. (Bleach solutions or commercial disinfectants are appropriate.) About the Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine prevents the flu, a common and highly contagious infection that can cause serious illness, and evendeath, in young children, older adults, and certain vulnerable people of all ages. The vaccine protects between 45percent and 90 percent of healthy children from getting the flu. Children and adults should ideally get a flu shot is inOctober.
References and Resources
• www.immunizenc.com | Immunization Branch, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
• www.cdc.gov/flu | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Flu Home Page
• www.immunizationinfo.org | National Network for Immunization Information

Source: http://www.ncdnpe.org/documents/flu5.pdf