Steps Being Taken in OVSD to Address Swine Flu

Information and Resources

AT THIS TIME several Ocean View students and staff have been confirmed as having H1N1 flu. We have received guidance from the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding student dismissal for influenza illness. Students 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.

WE ARE ASKING PARENTS/GUARDIANS to include any instance of fever in their notification to the school office of their child's illness. School principals will be making an NTI/phone message announcement to all parents and guardians requesting that fever information be included in the parent's absence call.

For more information on the CDC's guidance regarding student dismissal for influenza illness please click here or below to read Dr. Rasmussen's May 6, 2009 letter to parents.

Swine Flu is a Type A Influenza (H1N1) that causes outbreaks in pigs. Human infections from person to person have been reported worldwide, which makes this a pandemic event. Symptoms of H1N1 include cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, and fatigue. The swine flu is spread the same way as any seasonal flu: person to person by coughing or sneezing or by touching secretions from the mouth and nose left by someone else and then touching the nose or mouth. The infectious stage begins 1 day before symptoms occur and up to 7 days after becoming sick.

Prevention Recommendations:

Wash hands frequently and cough and sneeze into an elbow
Get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and eat a nutritious diet
Any student or staff member with symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea should stay home
Do not share foods and drinks
Students will be sent to the health office with symptoms of coughing, complaint of fever, and/or sore throat.

The District is taking the following preventative actions:

Administration is in constant contact with the Orange County Health Care Agency
Attendance at each school is being closely monitored. In the event a school exceeds a rate of 10% absenteeism, we will notify the Orange County Health Care Agency
All school principals have received information to share with staff, students and parents about the pandemic and what to look for
Special instructions have been provided to school nurses, health technicians and office staff about contacting parents and sending home students if they have a fever of 100 or higher

Resources are available to parents and staff online: