Pandemic flu planning in states where school is in session
Rates and numbers of cases of pandemic influenza in the United States are lower than they were when schools were open in the spring. Public Health officials expect that to change as schools reopen for the fall.
The average incubation period from exposure to symptoms for this swine flu is 2-3 days, though it may be as long as 10 days. If the infection rates remain the same, schools will begin seeing clusters of pandemic flu nine to sixteen days after they open.
Through today, most of the schools in six states have reopened for a new school year. You can locate your state at this link. The various states are assessing the CDC’s recommendations about handling the H1N1 or Swine Flu pandemic in schools and some have begun to take action. The state websites are linked to the state names. News media reports on the subject follow.
- Arizona: KVOA reports that schools are prepared in the Pima County area. Schools are setting up areas where sick children or adults who come to school can be isolated from the general population. Coughing or sneezing into the crook of your arm is going to be taught in the schools.
- Hawaii: KHNL 8 reports on a school that suffered a cluster of pandemic flu cases last spring. KHON 2 talks about Hawaii’s Stop Flu in School Program.
- Alabama: The Gadsden Times reports that school officials will be “fighting flu with common sense”. The Times Daily in northern Alabama says that local health officials and schools will base their initial pandemic fight on educating the public.
- Georgia: Fox 5 Atlanta reports that health officials and school administrators are concentrating on convincing parents to keep their children home if they are ill. Good hygiene habits, such as handwashing, are going to be stressed in schools.
- Tennessee: The Tennessean reveals that officials plan on keeping schools open, per the CDC recommendations. Last spring there were some school closings related to the pandemic flu.
- Louisiana: The Daily Comet quotes health officials in Louisiana as stressing the importance of good hygiene habits.
Table of contents for Pandemic Flu United States 2009
- Pandemic Flu in the United States June 12 2009
- Pandemic Flu in the United States June 15 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu in the United States June 17 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1n1 in the United States June 22 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1n1 in the United States June 24 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the U.S. Military
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1n1 in the United States June 25 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the United States June 29 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the United States July 1 2009
- Coast Guard Is Prepared for Pandemic Flu
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the United States July 6 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the United States July 10 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the United States July 14 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the United States July 16 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 in the United States July 21 2009
- Pandemic Swine Flu – H1N1 Discussion for July 25 2009
- The Coming Pandemic Wave
- U.S. Military Handles Pandemic Flu
- The Future of Pandemic Flu in American Public Schools
- NORAD Personnel Have Pandemic Flu
- Military cases of pandemic flu continue
- Pandemic flu planning in states where school is in session
- U.S. schools start to see pandemic flu
- Swine Flu to cost schools billions
- More Pandemic Swine Flu in schools as they open for fall
- Mississippi States adresses Swine Flu on campus
- Pandemic swine flu beginning to surge in U.S.
- Swine flu update – October 6 2009
- Where is Swine Flu spreading in New York State?
- Why is it taking so long to get the flu vaccine?
- CBS Exclusive Report on H1N1 uses fake numbers?
- My television interview
- Swine Flu in the United States for November 7 2009
