Fall 2009 H1N1 influenza update
Typically, influenza outbreaks occur no earlier than mid-December. This year, health officials say, the virus has remained active over the summer and we may see outbreaks in the fall.
Health officials are paying particular attention to the potential for outbreaks in schools as well as other places where young people gather. This is because the H1N1 virus appears to be disproportionately affecting children and young adults.
Right now, the H1N1 virus does not appear to be causing severe disease, with the exception of individuals with asthma or other underlying health conditions, although this could change. Local officials are working closely with the Whatcom County Health Department to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take to prepare and protect our community.
Stay home if you are sick
Flu is easily spread from person to person. Health officials have stated that the most important step to prevent flu outbreaks is for sick people to stay home. Please stay home if you are ill, and keep your children home from school, daycare and other activities if they are ill. Symptoms of the flu include:
- A fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headache
- Feeling very tired
- Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea
Other steps you should take
- Wash your hands frequently, with soap and hot water.
- Cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough.
- Don’t share drinking glasses, eating utensils, or food.
Stay informed
The Whatcom County Health Department, St. Joseph Hospital, and City of Bellingham have created a joint Web site where officials will maintain local information, guidance, and links to many other state and federal sources of information.
For more information visit www.flu.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. Other good sources of information include the Washington State Department of Health and the local news media.
District Plans for Response to Pandemic Influenza
The district has been working since 2007 on a plan to respond to a pandemic influenza event as advised by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Whatcom County Health Department. Our goal is to plan for the use of interventions that would help limit the spread of a pandemic.
Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease from a new influenza, a virus that is unlike those in the past. Influenza viruses cause infections of the respiratory tract (breathing tubes and lungs). In some people, complications of influenza can be severe, including pneumonia. Because people have not been infected with a similar virus in the past, most or all people will not have any natural immunity (protection) from a new pandemic virus.
The district participated in local pandemic planning led by the Whatcom County Health Department. More than 120 individuals from business, government, schools, medical care, community support organizations, faith-based groups and legal experts, met to plan local response. For more information on this planning go to: http://www.whatcomcounty.us
As a school district, we have been planning for how we would continue essential operations in various stages of an outbreak.
We will continue to share more information about emergency planning with staff and families.
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