Import News about the H1N1 influenza
Hello this is Marilou Ryder, Superintendent. Allow me to take a moment of your time with an important message regarding the H1N1 influenza, formerly known as the Swine Flu.
Please visit our website to view this message and other important updates on the H1N1. The web address is www.vvuhsd.org.
Victor Valley Union High School District has been working with The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to understand the H1N1 virus and what we can do to prepare the community member’s of our District.
Our district is reporting cases of students out ill with the flu. We are not getting the word from parents on confirmed cases of H1N1. Most health care providers are not testing for H1N1 because so many people are coming into their offices with the flu. Rather, they are stating that, if a person has flu like symptoms and a fever over 100 degrees that one should consider that they probably have the H1N1 Flu. Health providers are only focusing on confirming cases of H1N1 only in a targeted group of individuals. These individuals include those who have underlying medical conditions like asthma or diabetes and women who are pregnant. This means many individuals with flu like symptoms may have the H1N1 without medical confirmation. Since the H1N1 and the seasonal influenza are treated with the same antiviral medications the H1N1 is treatable without medical confirmation of the virus.
We really want to emphasize the importance of practicing good sanitary precautions like washing your hands often and avoid touching your nose and mouth in addition to staying home when ill. Your participation in communicating this to your children and families is essential to preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus. Our schools will be sending home all children with flu like symptoms with a temperature of 100 degree or more.
If your children exhibit flu-like symptoms please avoid have them going to school. Avoid contact with other people until they are fever-free without the use of fever reducing medicines for a minimum of 24 hours and illness symptoms are dramatically reduced.
Department of Public Health is encouraging all individuals to get vaccinated for the seasonal flu and the H1N1. The vaccinations for the H1N1 are expected to be available by mid-October and we may have some clinics at our schools. We’ll let you know as soon as we get any information. Check with your health care provider for availability of vaccinations or you may contact the California Department of Public Health at (888) 865-0564.
It is our intention to continue to provide you with updates on the H1N1 and the District’s actions in mitigating the effects of this illness. So please bear with us on the length of these phone messages. Thank you.
