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  Home Page » Features » Columnists » Creating Community » Collaborative Local Decisions Important During Flu Outbreak

Collaborative, local decisions important during flu outbreak

by Jane Looney
The public keeps hearing from health officials that the H1N1 flu (swine flu) in the U.S. is acting much like the seasonal flu. So why, many might ask, are schools closing? Unlike seasonal flu, there is no vaccination available to keep this new virus from spreading more widely. And, unlike the seasonal flu, health officials still are  learning about H1N1, so they're acting fairly aggressively in trying to slow its spread. Therefore, tools such as school closures have been utilized across the country.

School closures around the country have varied. Texas has closed whole districts. New Mexico closed a school with a probable case. The Centers for Disease Control has been monitoring the effectiveness of these actions as well as other methods communities are using to reduce the spread. One of the models being examined includes asking parents to check their children every morning for signs of illness and keeping them from going to school if signs are observed. It has teachers checking students for flu signs and sending those students to school health offices for evaluation, then sending suspected flu cases home. This is very similar to a procedure used by Durango School District 9-R.

Additionally, the CDC gets  information each day on the severity of H1N1, which can prompt revisions of its school-closure guidelines. In fact, late Tuesday the CDC issued new "interim guidance" on school closures, which recommends the primary means to reduce the spread of influenza in schools should focus on early identification of ill students and staff, staying home when ill, and good cough and hand-hygiene etiquette.

The decision to close a school in La Plata or Archuleta counties would be a local, collaborative decision between the affected local school district, county officials, San Juan Basin Health Department, state governmental and health officials.

While personal responsibility is critically important every flu season, Dr. Richard Besser of the CDC says it is particularly important now as we're learning about a new virus. Take everyday actions to stay healthy and to help prevent others from getting sick.

Concern about H1N1 can make children and parents anxious. The national PTA and associations of school nurses and school psychologists has developed a great two-page resource for parents about how to talk with their children about this flu. Parents can visit ww.sjbhd.org for this resource. Our Web site has local updates with state and national resource links. Individuals also can call CO-Health Help line at 877-462-2911.

A San Juan Basin Health Department and La Plata County Office of Emergency Management video about the flu will show on DCAT (Channel 22) today, Thursday and Friday at 1:30 and 4 p.m or visit: www.dcat.tv.

Jane Looney is the San Juan Basin Health Department's communications director.