Choteau School District

Pandemic/Possible Pandemic Emergency Control Protocol

• Choteau School District #1 will share information related to pandemic/possible pandemic emergencies with staff, students and families.
• The District will rely on advice of the public health and medical communities in assessing the risk of transmission of communicable diseases to determine how best to protect the health of students and staff.
• The District will implement appropriate infection prevention policies and procedures to help limit the spread of influenza at school.
• The District will provide sufficient and accessible infection prevention supplies (e.g.  soap, alcohol based/waterless hand hygiene products, tissues, trash receptacles).
• The District will encourage hygiene practices, especially meticulous hand washing and hand sanitizing.
• Students should not be allowed to share food, drinks, etc.
• Teachers will instruct and encourage good cough/sneeze etiquette.
• The District will work with custodial staff as necessary to ensure desks, countertops, shared work areas, railings, door knobs, telephones and other common areas are disinfected frequently.
• The person designated on the student’s emergency form will be notified if that student shows influenza symptoms.  If the flu is confirmed the student should return to school only after symptoms are resolved.
• Staff members with known or suspected influenza should not remain at school and should return only after symptoms are resolved.
• When the reality presents itself, the District will notify parents of children attending an affected school that their children have been exposed to the source of the pandemic emergency, without identifying the particular student who has the condition.
•  Families should be advised that District Schools may be closed with little or no advanced notice, and that they should attempt to make daycare arrangements in advance of a possible emergency school closure.

Recommendations in Response to Pandemic/Possible Pandemic Emergencies

• Space students’ desks three (3) feet apart, in small pods or clusters.
• Discourage prolonged congregations in hallways, lunchrooms, etc.
• Limit group activities and interactions between classes.
• Cancel gym classes, choir, or other activities that place individuals in close proximity.
• Telephones should not be shared.
• Where possible, increase ventilation to the facility, by opening doors and windows.
• Heating and ventilation system filters should be cleaned and changed frequently.
• Daily monitor student and staff absences in each school.

Surveillance and Reporting

During all stages of a pandemic flu outbreak, and before such an event in our community, it is essential to monitor and document the number of students and staff who are absent and, in particular, whose symptoms meet the definition of influenza-like illness.  Keeping track of these numbers will help the District to determine when and whether to close schools and track the progress of the disease in the school community.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an influenza-like illness as having the following symptoms:

Fever of 100.0 degrees or higher and one of the following:

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle Ache
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Diarrhea

A Guide for Parents

What is the flu?

The flu (influenza) is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that is caused by influenza virus. The flu can spread from person to person. Most people with flu are sick for about a week, but then feel better. However, some people (especially young children, pregnant women, older people, and people with chronic health problems) can get very sick and some can die.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Most people with the flu feel tired and have fever (usually high), headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sore muscles. Some people, especially children, may also have stomach problems and diarrhea. Cough can last two or more weeks.

How does the flu spread?

People that have the flu usually cough, sneeze, and have a runny nose. This makes droplets with virus in them. Other people can get the flu by breathing in these droplets, getting them in their nose or mouth, or touching contaminated surfaces.

How long can a sick person spread the flu to others?

Healthy adults may be able to spread the flu from 1 day before getting sick to up to 5 days after getting sick. This can be longer in children and in people who don’t fight disease as well (people with weakened immune systems).

How can I protect my child from the flu?

A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. CDC recommends that all children from the ages of 6 months up to their 19th birthday get a flu vaccine every fall or winter (children getting a vaccine for the first time need two doses).

• Flu shots can be given to children 6 months and older.
• A nasal-spray vaccine can be given to healthy children 2 years and older (children under 5 years old who have had wheezing in the past year or any child with chronic health problems should get the flu shot).
• You can protect your child by getting a flu vaccine for yourself too. Also encourage your child’s close contacts to get a flu vaccine. This is very important if your child is younger than 5 or has a chronic health problem like asthma (breathing disease) or diabetes (high blood sugar levels).

Is there medicine to treat the flu?

There are antiviral drugs for children 1 year and older that can make your child feel better and get better sooner. But these drugs need to be approved by a doctor. They should be started during the first 2 days that your child is sick for them to work best. Your doctor can discuss with you if these drugs are right for your child.

What Can YOU Do?

How else can I protect my child against flu?

• Take time to get a flu vaccine and get your child vaccinated too.
• Take everyday steps to prevent the spread of germs. This includes:
• Clean your hands often and cover your coughs and sneezes
• Tell your child to:
• Stay away from people who are sick
• Clean hands often
• Keep hands away from face
• Cover coughs and sneezes to protect others (it’s best to use a tissue and throw it away).

What should I use for hand cleaning?

Washing hands with soap and water (for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice) will help protect your child from many different germs. When soap and water are not available, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used (the gels should be rubbed into your hands until they are dry).

What can I do if my child gets sick?

Consult your doctor and make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks a lot of fluids. If your child is older than 2 years, you can buy medicine (over-the-counter) without a prescription that might make your child feel better. Be careful with these medicines and follow the instructions on the package. But never give aspirin or medicine that has aspirin in it to children or teenagers who may have the flu.

What if my child seems very sick?

Call or take your child to a doctor right away if your child:

• has a high fever or fever that lasts a long time
• has trouble breathing or breathes fast
• has skin that looks blue
• is not drinking enough
• seems confused, will not wake up, does not want to be held, or has seizures (uncontrolled shaking)
• gets better but then worse again
• has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes) that get worse

Can my child go to school if he or she is sick?

No. Your child should stay home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children.

Should my child go to school if other children are sick?

It is not unusual for some children in school to get sick during the winter months. If many children get sick, it is up to you to decide whether to send your child to school. You might want to check with your doctor, especially if your child has other health problems.

When can my child go back to school after having the flu?

Keep your child home from school until his or her temperature has been normal for 24 hours. Remind your child to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, to protect others (you may want to send some tissue and wipes or gels with alcohol in them to school with your child).

Information about Pandemic Influenza (Flu)

Pandemic influenza or pandemic flu is a worldwide outbreak of a new flu virus for which there is little or no immunity or protection in the human population. Scientists and health professionals are concerned that the flu virus that has been reported in birds – called avian flu - may develop into the next human pandemic. Pandemic influenza can spread easily from person-to-person, causing serious illness and death. As many as 1 in 4 people could get sick during a pandemic, with many of them seriously ill.

The name of local public health agency is working with other local, state and federal agencies to prepare for the possibility of pandemic flu. Communities, schools, and individuals also need to plan for pandemic flu and take action to be better prepared to respond to pandemic flu.  The following information will help you understand what pandemic flu is and be better prepared.

Questions and Answers about Pandemic Flu

What is the difference between seasonal and pandemic Flu?

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by viruses.

In the United States, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring. The type of flu people get during this season is called seasonal flu.

Sometimes, a new type of flu virus may emerge to which the general public has no resistance. The lack of immunity enables the virus to spread quickly and easily from person to person impacting communities around the world in a very short time, causing serious illness and death. This kind of flu is called pandemic flu.

What are the symptoms of pandemic flu?

The exact symptoms of pandemic flu are unknown until the pandemic occurs. However, the CDC notes that symptoms are expected to be similar to those of seasonal flu, which include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Extreme fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle aches and pains
• Stomach problems, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children)

Research suggests that it may take two to seven days to show symptoms when a person catches the flu, and the symptoms may last for up to a week.

A person infected with the flu may transmit the flu for one to two days before they have symptoms, and for five to seven days after symptoms begin.

Why the concern over pandemic flu?

Pandemic flu is more serious than seasonal flu. Most people who get seasonal flu recover within a week or two and usually do not require medical treatment. Pandemic flu is different because more people who get it might not recover, even with medical treatment, and people of every age may be at risk of serious illness or death.

Who is more at risk?

The very young, the very old and the very sick are most likely to become seriously ill from any form of the flu virus.

What about a vaccine?

Unlike seasonal flu, there is no vaccine for pandemic flu until researchers and pharmaceutical companies are able to create one, which takes time. Even if a vaccine is developed for the pandemic flu, it will be a challenge to manufacture and dispense the vaccine to everyone in a timely manner.

When will this happen? Can I do something now?

Scientists cannot accurately predict whether the avian influenza virus (H5N1) will cause the next human pandemic flu or when the next pandemic will occur.

The best way to protect yourself and others is to practice healthy hygiene to keep you well now and during a flu pandemic. Practicing these actions now will make them easier to do later. These actions include washing your hands, covering your cough, and staying home (or keeping your children home) when sick.