Pandemic Flu Event Informational Presentation May 4, 2009

Pandemic vs. Seasonal Pandemic Flu= novel virus (new to human population) no immunities, so spreads easily and sustainably no vaccinations yet healthy adults may be at risk Seasonal Flu= some populations have immunities very young, elderly, and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk modest impact on community

Pandemic Flu=

novel virus (new to human population)

no immunities, so spreads easily and sustainably

no vaccinations yet

healthy adults may be at risk

Seasonal Flu=

some populations have immunities

very young, elderly, and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk

modest impact on community

Swine Flu medically termed “H1N1” virus H and N refer to proteins making up the virus a combination of 2 parts swine virus, 1 part avian virus, and 1 part human virus—a novel combination originally transmitted pig to human; now capable of human to human transmission

medically termed “H1N1” virus

H and N refer to proteins making up the virus

a combination of 2 parts swine virus, 1 part avian virus, and 1 part human virus—a novel combination

originally transmitted pig to human; now capable of human to human transmission

Symptoms Fever: 100.4 degrees or higher Muscle aches Cough, sore throat Fatigue At times there may be nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea Thus far, symptoms for H1N1 are considered mild in the U.S.

Fever: 100.4 degrees or higher

Muscle aches

Cough, sore throat

Fatigue

At times there may be nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea

Thus far, symptoms for H1N1 are considered mild in the U.S.

Contagion People are contagious 12-48 hrs before knowing they are ill. People are contagious for 7 days after symptoms have presented or for 24 hrs after fever has broken, whichever is longer.

People are contagious 12-48 hrs before knowing they are ill.

People are contagious for 7 days after symptoms have presented or for 24 hrs after fever has broken, whichever is longer.

Preventing Illness Wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based gel. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. Use cough etiquette: Cough into elbow, not hand. Use tissues once and throw away, then wash hands.

Wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based gel.

Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.

Use cough etiquette:

Cough into elbow, not hand.

Use tissues once and throw away, then wash hands.

Preventing Illness (cont.) Avoid contact with sick people. If sick, stay home; isolate yourself from your family in a bedroom. If sick, call your doctor before going to the doctor’s office. If sick, wear a mask when in the presence of anyone else. (Healthy people do not need to wear a mask.)

Avoid contact with sick people.

If sick, stay home; isolate yourself from your family in a bedroom.

If sick, call your doctor before going to the doctor’s office.

If sick, wear a mask when in the presence of anyone else. (Healthy people do not need to wear a mask.)

What PSD Is Doing at This Time Daily contact with Center for Disease Control & Prevention. ( www.cdc.gov/swineflu ) Daily contact with Pierce County Health Department. ( www.tpchd.org ) Daily contact with Pierce County Emergency Management. (www.

Daily contact with Center for Disease Control & Prevention. ( www.cdc.gov/swineflu )

Daily contact with Pierce County Health Department. ( www.tpchd.org )

Daily contact with Pierce County Emergency Management. (www.

What We Are Doing…. Established a District Lead Team which is building and implementing a plan Conducting daily briefings Sending out a daily “Health Bulletin” to our building principals and Board of Directors Sent a letter (in 5 languages) to families, and notified families and staff by School Messenger Updating continually the PSD website

Established a District Lead Team which is building and implementing a plan

Conducting daily briefings

Sending out a daily “Health Bulletin” to our building principals and Board of Directors

Sent a letter (in 5 languages) to families, and notified families and staff by School Messenger

Updating continually the PSD website

What We Are Doing (cont.) Providing extra cleaning measures by custodians of “high-touch” surfaces Tracking percentages of student and staff absenteeism at each school Provided to schools and departments: Masks for health rooms for ill students or staff Posters for offices, classrooms, and restrooms Warning poster for front doors Alcohol gel for students in portables

Providing extra cleaning measures by custodians of “high-touch” surfaces

Tracking percentages of student and staff absenteeism at each school

Provided to schools and departments:

Masks for health rooms for ill students or staff

Posters for offices, classrooms, and restrooms

Warning poster for front doors

Alcohol gel for students in portables

Remember… This event is fluid. Information about the virus is fluid. Prevention plans are fluid. Directions to schools and staff will change as the Center for Disease Control and Pierce County Dept. of Health learn more and change their recommendations.

This event is fluid.

Information about the virus is fluid.

Prevention plans are fluid.

Directions to schools and staff will change as the Center for Disease Control and Pierce County Dept. of Health learn more and change their recommendations.

New Vocabulary Suspected = a person is ill with flu-like symptoms but has not yet been tested or test results are not yet available Probable = test results show positive for flu virus, but not yet confirmed for which flu virus (seasonal or H1N1) Confirmed = Center for Disease Control or state lab tests confirm positive for H1N1

Suspected = a person is ill with flu-like symptoms but has not yet been tested or test results are not yet available

Probable = test results show positive for flu virus, but not yet confirmed for which flu virus (seasonal or H1N1)

Confirmed = Center for Disease Control or state lab tests confirm positive for H1N1

School Closures If a school has a probable or confirmed case, the Pierce County Health Dept. will recommend that we close the school for at least 7 days. We have already decided that we will comply. If a school has a suspected case, we will close for 1-2 days until testing is confirmed.

If a school has a probable or confirmed case, the Pierce County Health Dept. will recommend that we close the school for at least 7 days. We have already decided that we will comply.

If a school has a suspected case, we will close for 1-2 days until testing is confirmed.

EJH and WHS Why aren’t they closed? Not recommended by the Tacoma-Pierce County Dept. of Health at this time. Both siblings: Mild to moderate symptoms Have completely recovered At the schools: Anecdotal data is being taken through interviews Staff absenteeism is being monitored Long-term monitoring of students

Not recommended by the Tacoma-Pierce County Dept. of Health at this time. Both siblings:

Mild to moderate symptoms

Have completely recovered

At the schools:

Anecdotal data is being taken through interviews

Staff absenteeism is being monitored

Long-term monitoring of students

What If My School Closes? You will be notified by School Messenger if your school closes. You will be notified whether to stay home or report to work. School activities and gatherings will be cancelled. We may apply for a waiver to OSPI to not have to make up days.

You will be notified by School Messenger if your school closes.

You will be notified whether to stay home or report to work.

School activities and gatherings will be cancelled.

We may apply for a waiver to OSPI to not have to make up days.

Questions? If you still have a question after reviewing the information posted on the District’s website, you may address “Communications” on Groupwise Email; we will respond to your question.

If you still have a question after reviewing the information posted on the District’s website, you may address “Communications” on Groupwise Email; we will respond to your question.