Influenza Information

January 11, 2019
                                                           
Dear Parent/Guardian:                                                                                                                      
 
We are at that time of year when we see influenza (flu) and other respiratory viruses at school. The flu is particularly widespread this year across the nation, and this is reflected in our schools. Our school nurses documented 447 reported cases of the flu throughout all of our schools in December, which were diagnosed by a healthcare provider; and the first week back after the semester break, there have been five confirmed and documented cases of the flu at three schools.
 
Given the severity of this year’s flu season, we want to let you know what steps we are taking to keep our school community healthy, and how you can help.
 
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine.It is not too late to get vaccinated since there is plenty of flu season left.  For more information, visit www.flu.govor call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. Also, reference the attached document from the Georgia Department of Public Health, District 4.
 
We take the health of our students seriously and work very hard to keep the flu virus from spreading. The steps we take include:
Regularly cleaning frequently touched areas such as door knobs, light switches and faucets with approved disinfectant.
Continually accessing students in the classroom and sending them to the clinic for evaluation if they have flu symptoms.
Separating sick students from healthy students in the clinic.
 
We also instruct students and staff to use the following preventative practices to fight the flu:
Wash hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available.
Cover coughs with a disposable tissue or cough into their sleeve.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
Avoid sharing cups and eating utensils.
 
You can help us maintain a healthy school environment in a variety of ways:
Reinforce all of the above preventive behaviors practiced at school.
Keep sick children home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Children who are determined to be sick at school will be sent home.
Inform the school if your child is diagnosed with a confirmed case of the flu.
 
If your child becomes sick or you have questions concerning the flu, please contact your health care provider. 
Thank you for your cooperation.
 
Sincerely,
 
Debbie King                                                     Dr. Joseph Barrow                  Mike Sanders
School Health Services Coordinator               Superintendent                       Assistant
Superintendent of Operations