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Cabarrus schools stress flu prevention
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Published: September 18, 2009
In the first 13 days of academic year, Cabarrus County Schools saw a daily average of 27 students who called in sick, were told they had the flu or were sent home, said Jan Odell, school health director for the Cabarrus Health Alliance.
Kannapolis City Schools had an average of five students per day.
"We should all respond to anyone with flu-like symptoms as they have the flu," Odell said. "If someone has the flu in July, August or September, it's H1N1."
One way H1N1 is different from the seasonal flu is that it is affects more young people, Odell said. The average age in the U.S. of those infected with it is 19 years.
Odell told the Kannapolis City Schools Board of Education on Monday that it was important for parents to continue to receive information about the flu.
"We are doing lots of things with schools, trying to monitor and get the message out that if you feel ill, don't come to school or send a child to school," Odell said.
Both Kannapolis City and Cabarrus County school systems have distributed information to homes via telephone and Web messages.
"The disease is out there, and all we can do is try to reduce the spread as much as we can," Odell said. "Until (the vaccine arrives), we are back to the basics."
The main message Kannapolis City Schools wanted to communicate was to keep students home if they experience flu-like symptoms, said Ellen Boyd, director of community relations for the school system.
Cabarrus County Schools said it is also encouraging those feeling ill to stay home.
"We are focusing on prevention as much as we can," said Ronnye Boone, public relations director for Cabarrus County Schools. "We are encouraging lots of hand washing, and respiratory hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes. Prevention is our first line of defense."
The Cabarrus Health Alliance also recommends drinking fluids, getting plenty of sleep and washing hands frequently for about 20 seconds each time. Odell suggested singing "Happy Birthday" twice, while washing hands to be thorough.
She also advised children receiving both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine.
Both school systems will have the seasonal flu shot available for employees covered in the insurance plan. Also, some seventh and eight-grade students in Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City school systems will have the opportunity to receive the flu mist, a pilot project which administers the seasonal-flu vaccine through a squirt in the nose, instead of a shot.
Kannapolis City Schools will also examine its attendance policies so students are not afraid to stay home and get better when they experience flu-like symptoms.
"We want them to be at school but not infect people," Boyd said.
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