After all the panic; after all the closures; after all the deaths; after the border remained open in the face of what the world and governments called a pandemic in which millions could die; after the comparisons to the 1918 flu; after the stories it was made in a lab and released purposely; after it had been renamed so many times for PC reasons...now we have these new guidlines from the CDC as communicated to school districts: CDC Recommendations -
School Closure Is Not Advised
New information on disease severity warrants revision of the school closure guidance. Most U.S. cases have not been severe and are comparable in severity to seasonal influenza. CDC and local and state health officials will continue to closely monitor the severity and spread of this novel H1N1 influenza outbreak.
Recommendations
School closure is not advised [even] for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to function.
Schools that were closed based on previous interim CDC guidance related to this outbreak may reopen.
Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care for at least 7 days even if symptoms resolve sooner.
Students, faculty and staff who are still sick 7 days after they become ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.
Students, faculty and staff who appear to have an influenza-like illness at arrival or become ill during the school day should be isolated promptly in a room separate from other students and sent home.
Parents and guardians should monitor their school-aged children, and faculty and staff should self-monitor every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illness.
Ill students should not attend alternative child care or congregate in settings other than school.
School administrators should communicate regularly with local public health officials to obtain guidance about reporting of influenza-like illnesses in the school.
Schools can help serve as a focus for educational activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
Students, faculty and staff should stringently follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue isn't available), frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.
Poster Comment:
So: You're all going to die in the global pandemic!!!! You're all racists; it's not the Mexican Flu! You're all pig haters; it's not swine flu. We don't eat svine so it's not swine flu say the rabis. Cases are in every country! It's worldwide! Cases have let up. Cases are on the increase! Cases are declining. Cases are not declining but they are just not severe. We don't know where this virus came from or why it killed mostly Mexicans. Resident comes from Mexico City the main scene of exposure but says nothing to fear!! [The hero is immune and fearless] We've shipped tons of Tamiflu (does not work) so Rumsfeld can get rich due to the price runup that happened. It's a pandemic!! You're doomed but the border will remain open!!! It's not a pandemic!! Wear masks. Don't wear masks. We've cancelled NAVY missions because of it..but we want your school open!!! (Huh??) It could come back in the fall and kill again. Be afraid. Be very afraid...because WE are in control of the information...and more.