Swine Influenza Guidelines for Schools

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 95
POLICY CODE: EEBA

DATE: April 28, 2009
TO: Superintendents of Schools, Private Schools, Special Purpose Private Schools, and School Nurses
FROM: Commissioner Susan A. Gendron, Department of Education
RE: Swine Influenza Guidelines for Schools

The Department of Education is in close communication at this time with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) on the status of identified swine flu first reported on April 26, 2009. Nancy Dube, the Department’s School Nurse Consultant, has already been in direct contact with your school nurses, and will continue to update them with any information they need to ensure the health and safety of students and the school community. School nurses have been made aware of the procedure to follow in reporting suspected cases of swine flu. The 24/7 Reporting and Consultation Line is 1-800-821-5821.

The Maine CDC has issued the following statement: “No cases of swine influenza (H1N1), known as swine flu, have been detected in Maine as of April 26, 2009.” Many families are returning from spring vacation and there is the potential that some of these families may have come in contact with the swine flu.

At this time, the Maine Department of Education and the Maine CDC recommend that schools increase education on respiratory hygiene and monitor the school population for signs of acute febrile (fever) respiratory (coughing) illness.

Respiratory hygiene education should include:

Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.
Stay home if you are sick, especially with a fever.

Industrial hygiene should also be stepped up to include cleaning of surfaces particularly public water fountains and bathrooms.

Any student or staff member with acute febrile respiratory illness, regardless of travel history, should be sent home according to the local school board policy with instructions to stay home until 24-48 hours after the symptoms resolve (no fever for 1-2 days). Instructions should be given to seek medical care with worsening symptoms.

AT THIS TIME EXCLUSION IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL OR STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY TRAVELED TO AN AFFECTED AREA AND DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS.

This is a rapidly evolving situation and information can change quickly. The Maine CDC website is a good source for accurate information about swine flu, with links to the U.S. CDC site: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/swine-flu-2009.shtml .

If you have further questions about swine flu or require further guidance, please contact Nancy Dube RN, School Nurse Consultant, at 207-624-6688 or Nancy.Dube@maine.gov or the Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821.