Details
News Alert 4/29/09 - Swine Flu
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can occur. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person to person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people. Public Health officials have determined that this strain of swine flu virus spreads from human to human and can cause illness.
Full and detailed information is available at: www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
Do I have swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever (greater than 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. At the present time, the most relevant symptoms are fever and cough. The CDC is preparing a more specific case definition at the time of this writing.
If you are a Westminster student and think you meet these criteria, please call the Westminster Health Center 860.408.3080 to discuss your symptoms with a health care provider. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care providers.
What can I do to prevent getting swine flu?
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is spread mainly person to person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol- based hand cleaners are also effective.
• If you become ill, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Seek medical care if you are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing). Do not go to work, school or travel while ill.
Should I be prescribed an antiviral medication (Oseltamivir and Zanamivir)?
The current recommendation is to reserve antivirals for patients who have confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and their close contacts. In the event a student on campus is found to have confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, we will notify their close contacts and prescribe treatment.
Should the school be closed?
The Connecticut Department of Public Health has recommended that schools strongly consider closing with a confirmed case of the flu or a case linked to a confirmed case. Should cases of the swine flu be diagnosed in the Westminster community, there is a possibility that we would need to close the school and send students home. If this situation occurs, parents would need to make necessary and immediate travel arrangements for their child. If a student is ill at the time of closure, parents might be expected to come to campus and make special arrangements for care and travel for their child.
What is Westminster doing to protect the community?
We will evaluate individual students and test those students whose symptoms are worrisome. We will follow and comply with all applicable public health advisories.
What if I have questions?
For the most up-to-date information, please visit the “News and Events” page of the Westminster School Web site at www.westminster-school.org where news alerts will be posted as necessary.
Questions may also be directed to Kendra Lawrence, MD, Medical Director, or Janna Zempsky, APRN, Nursing Director of Westminster’s Health Center. We will respond as quickly as circumstances allow.
Kendra Lawrence, M.D.
Medical Director, Westminster Health Center
W. Graham Cole, Jr.
Headmaster
Back
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can occur. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person to person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people. Public Health officials have determined that this strain of swine flu virus spreads from human to human and can cause illness.
Full and detailed information is available at: www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
Do I have swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever (greater than 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. At the present time, the most relevant symptoms are fever and cough. The CDC is preparing a more specific case definition at the time of this writing.
If you are a Westminster student and think you meet these criteria, please call the Westminster Health Center 860.408.3080 to discuss your symptoms with a health care provider. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care providers.
What can I do to prevent getting swine flu?
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is spread mainly person to person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol- based hand cleaners are also effective.
• If you become ill, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Seek medical care if you are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing). Do not go to work, school or travel while ill.
Should I be prescribed an antiviral medication (Oseltamivir and Zanamivir)?
The current recommendation is to reserve antivirals for patients who have confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and their close contacts. In the event a student on campus is found to have confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, we will notify their close contacts and prescribe treatment.
Should the school be closed?
The Connecticut Department of Public Health has recommended that schools strongly consider closing with a confirmed case of the flu or a case linked to a confirmed case. Should cases of the swine flu be diagnosed in the Westminster community, there is a possibility that we would need to close the school and send students home. If this situation occurs, parents would need to make necessary and immediate travel arrangements for their child. If a student is ill at the time of closure, parents might be expected to come to campus and make special arrangements for care and travel for their child.
What is Westminster doing to protect the community?
We will evaluate individual students and test those students whose symptoms are worrisome. We will follow and comply with all applicable public health advisories.
What if I have questions?
For the most up-to-date information, please visit the “News and Events” page of the Westminster School Web site at www.westminster-school.org where news alerts will be posted as necessary.
Questions may also be directed to Kendra Lawrence, MD, Medical Director, or Janna Zempsky, APRN, Nursing Director of Westminster’s Health Center. We will respond as quickly as circumstances allow.
Kendra Lawrence, M.D.
Medical Director, Westminster Health Center
W. Graham Cole, Jr.
Headmaster
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Simsbury, Connecticut 06070
P. (860) 408-3000
F. (860) 408 3001
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