Latest Flu and H1N1 Information
H1N1 Update
October 26, 2009
Visits to doctors for influenza‐like illness (ILI) continued to increase in the United States, and overall, are higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is equal to or higher than what is seen at the peak of many regular flu seasons.
Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory‐confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year.
Forty‐one states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. This includes New York State. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are the 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses.
These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
New York State Department Of Health Update:
Current key findings from flu monitoring systems in New York State (NYS) for the week ending October 17, 2009, include:
The overall level of flu activity is currently moderate and appears to be increasing when compared to last week.
The number of people hospitalized with flu is currently low and appears to be increasing when compared to last week.
From the Superintendent: H1N1 Update
October 20, 2009
This letter is to inform you that we are beginning to see an increase in flu-like illnesses within our school. The New York State Department of Health has stated that the majority of influenza viruses recently sub-typed at the NYSDOH Wadsworth Center have been novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses. So therefore, the flu virus that is currently circulating in our community is most likely the H1N1 flu virus, as per the Rensselaer County Department of Health. Most people infected with the novel H1N1 flu virus have experienced mild to moderate illness, similar to seasonal flu. Treatment for the novel H1N1 flu is the same as for the seasonal flu.
Our school health staff is monitoring your child’s health in school and will notify parents if there are any concerns. The flu can easily spread from person to person, but there are preventive measures you can take to help us significantly reduce the incidence of the flu in our school community.
The Center for Disease Control recommends that you:
Teach your children good hygiene . Teach children to cover their coughs/sneezes with their elbows, use good hand washing habits, and keep their hands away from their face. Soap and water is the most effective way to avoid germs. Please stress the importance of not sharing personal items such as water bottles, drinks, food or utensils.Know the symptoms of the flu even if they are mild . Symptoms include fever (100.8 degrees or higher), cough, sore throat, runny nose and body aches. Some children vomit or have diarrhea.Keep your children at home when they are sick . Students who develop flu-like symptoms should stay home, rest, drink plenty of fluids, see their health care provider and remain home from school until they are free of fever for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication (for example, Tylenol or Motrin, NEVER use aspirin) . Please follow the District’s procedures for reporting absences by contacting your child’s school.Consider the H1N1 flu vaccine, as well as the seasonal flu vaccine . Please consult your pediatrician to determine if your child should receive either flu vaccine. Call your doctor or visit www.flucliniclocator.org for more information.
The Hoosick Falls Central School District will continue to monitor flu-like illness in our school and follow the recommendations of the county and State Health Departments with cleaning and disinfecting our building.
For more information about the flu, please visit our flu information page or www.flu.gov .
Sincerely,Mr. Kenneth A. Facin
H1N1 Update
October 20, 2009
Current key findings from flu monitoring systems in New York State (NYS) for the week ending October 10, 2009, include:
The overall level of flu activity is currently moderate and appears to be increasing when compared to last week.
The number of people hospitalized with flu is currently low and appears to be increasing when compared to last week.
The number of people dying with flu in NYS (outside of NYC) is currently 1 reported this week.
The total number of deaths associated with H1N1 flu reported in NYS (outside of NYC) since September 1, 2009, is 4.
The total number of deaths associated with H1N1 flu reported in NYS (outside of NYC) since April 24, 2009, is 30.
H1N1 Update
October 13, 2009
Current key findings from flu monitoring systems in New York State (NYS) for the week ending October 3rd, 2009, includes:
The overall level of flu activity is currently moderate and appears to be increasing when compared to last week.
The number of people hospitalized with flu is currently low and appears to be slightly increasing when compared to last week.
The number of people dying with flu is currently 1 reported this week.
FluView National Flu Activity Map
October 13, 2009
From the Superintendent
September 22nd, 2009
As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in Hoosick Falls Central School. We want to keep the school open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season. But, we need your help to do this.
We are working closely with the New York State Health Department and the Rensselaer County Health Department to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our school. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.
If the flu becomes more severe, we will take additional steps to prevent the spread such as:
Conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school
Making changes to increase the space between people such as moving desks farther apart and postponing class trips
Dismissing students from school for at least 7 days if they become sick.
For now we are doing everything we can to keep our school functioning as usual. Here are a few things you can do to help:
Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself. Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils. Teach your children to cover their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable. Teach you children after using tissue to dispose of immediately and follow with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or do not have signs of a fever, without using fever-reducing drugs (for example, Tylenol or Motrin, NEVER use aspirin). Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
For more information visit www.flu.gov , or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. For more information about flu in our community and what our school is doing, visit our website or call (518) 686-7012 (Jan McGuire, K-6 nurse, ext. 1304 or Chris Merrell, 7-12 nurse, ext. 1514). We will notify you of any additional changes to our school’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu.
Sincerely,Mr. Kenneth A. Facin
