The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108-4619
DEVAL L. PATRICK GOVERNOR TIMOTHY P. MURRAY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JUDYANN BIGBY, MD SECRETARY JOHN AUERBACH COMMISSIONER |
Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus
Information for School and Childcare Settings
April 27, 2009
No cases of swine influenza (H1N1), known as swine flu, have been detected in Massachusetts as of April 27, 2009. With many students and childcare attendees returning from spring vacation, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is providing the following guidance for these settings. However, this is a rapidly evolving situation. As more information becomes available and the situation unfolds, guidance is likely to change in the upcoming days and weeks. It is important for people to stay informed by monitoring websites such as those provided below.
Attached is the DPH fact sheet on swine flu, which you should feel free to provide to parents, students and staff.
Guidance for School and Childcare Settings
At this time, DPH recommends that schools and childcare settings increase education on respiratory hygiene and monitor attendees for acute febrile respiratory illness.
Staff and children (as developmentally appropriate) should all be taught and asked to follow these steps that prevent the transmission of infections such as influenza:
- Cover your coughs and sneezes into a tissue or the inside of your elbow, not into your bare hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.
- Stay home if you’re sick, especially with a fever.
School or childcare participants with acute febrile respiratory illness, regardless of travel history, should be sent home according to facilities-established procedures with instructions to stay at home for least 7 days after the onset of illness or until 24 hours after their symptoms resolve, whichever is longer. Instructions should be given to seek medical care if symptoms worsen. At this time, exclusion is not recommended for school or childcare participants who have recently traveled to an area where swine flu cases have been confirmed, and who do not have symptoms.
Disease Reporting and Consultation
School nurses and student health centers should report higher than normal absenteeism to your local health department or to the DPH Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800.
Definitions of Respiratory Illness:
1. Acute respiratory illness, defined as recent onset of at least two of the following:
rhinorrhea (runny nose) or nasal congestion
sore throat
cough
fever or feverishness
- Influenza-like illness: fever >37.8°C (100°F) plus cough or sore throat
For More Information:
U.S. CDC Swine Influenza Website:
Massachusetts-Specific Information as well as links to CDC:
School and/or Day Care Specific Resources
All you have to do is wash your hands Podcast: This Podcast teaches children how and when to wash their hands properly.
Downloadable Flu Prevention Materials for Schools/Day Cares:
BAM! Body and Mind. Teacher's Corner: In this activity, students will conduct an experiment on washing their hands. They will learn that "clean" hands may not be so clean after all and the critical importance of washing their hands as a way to prevent the spread of disease. http://www.bam.gov/teachers/epidemiology_hand_wash.html
"It's a SNAP" Toolkit Program materials to help prevent school absenteeism activities for school administrators, teachers, students and others can do to help stop the spread of germs in schools.
Scrub Club http://www.scrubclub.org/Kids can learn about health and hygiene and become members of the Scrub Club(tm) at www.scrubclub.org. The site features a fun and educational animated Webisode with seven "soaper-heros" who battle nasty villains who represent germs and
bacteria. Kids learn the six key steps to proper hand-washing through a webisode, hand-washing song, interactive games, and activities for kids, and educational materials for teachers are also available to download.
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