Superintendent Robert Dubik sent a notice to Cazenovia School District parents and guardians on June 4 saying that two Burton Street Elementary School students were sent home with the H1N1 virus.
“Our maintenance and custodial staff continue to follow Health Department recommendations for disinfecting the facilities,” Dubik said. “If your child does appear to have flu-like symptoms, please call your child’s school nurse as well as the Madison County Health Department at 366-2848.”
Children with symptoms of a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, sore throat or runny or stuffy nose should stay home for 7 days following the beginning of symptoms.
The Madison County Health Department announced the first two confirmed cases of the virus, also known as swine flu, on June 4.
“With the number of confirmed H1N1 cases in New York State, we anticipated that it would only be a matter of time before we had our first confirmed case,” said Eric Faisst, Public Health Director for the Madison County Health Department, in a news release. “Our goal is to minimize the spread of disease in the community.”
The two individuals are experiencing mild illness and are recovering at home, according to the release.
Faisst later confirmed that these cases were the two Burton Stree Elementary school students.
In his letter, Dubik listed several important ways to reduce the risk of flu and to protect others from infection:
“Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and hot water for at
least 20 seconds is ideal (that’s about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday”
song twice).
“Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes all work well, as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed of properly. Always read and follow label instructions when using hand sanitizer.
“Teach your children to keep their hands away from their face and avoid touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
“Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of their elbow. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve–not your hands!
“Help your children to learn these healthy habits by setting a good example and always
doing them yourself.”
A 2009 Center for Disease Control study estimated 36,171 flu-related deaths per year in the United States. By comparison, the H1N1 virus has caused only 17 deaths in the United States since it was first confirmed in the United States on April 15.
A report on the CDC website is cautious about the upcoming flu season, but says recovery so far has been common.
“At this time, most people who have become ill with novel H1N1 in the United States have recovered without requiring medical treatment and have experienced typical flu symptoms,” the report states.
For more information, visit cdc.gov or call (800) 232-6348.
