Influenza H1N1(fiebre porcina) en Williston!!

Los directores del distrito escolar de Williston, que incluye las escuelas Allen Brook y Williston Central, informaron a los padres que hay varios casos confirmados de la nueva influenza H1N1, mas conocida bajo el nombre de fiebre porcina.
No hay razon para alarmarse pero si para tomar preocauciones:

1. Quedarse en casa si algun miembro de la familia tiene sintomas de gripe
   
2. Lavarse frecuentemente las manos y utilizar gel desinfectante
3. Cubrirse la boca con el brazo o el antebrazo al tose. Si lo haces con la mano, dejas tus germenes en las cosas que tocas
   
4. Tomar mucho liquido, comer comidas sanas y descansar bien si tienes sintomas de gripe
   
5. Evitar fumar y los ambientes con humo

Aqui les copio el email que recibi del director del distrito escolar de Williston.
A cuidarse mucho!!

Mariana


June 8, 2009

Dear parents and guardians, particularly parents of kindergarten students,

We are closing all Williston Kindergarten classes beginning tomorrow, June 9th for the year.

We currently have 5 confirmed cases of the H1N1 Influenza in the Williston Schools (in both ABS and WCS). 3 of our 5 confirmed cases are in our Kindergarten classes at Allen Brook School. There are an additional 4 kindergarten students who had a flu-like illness in the past week, who have returned to school after their illness and are better. There are currently 4 more kindergarten students with flu-like illnesses at home. We have communicated with Dr. Wendy Davis' office at the Vermont Department of Health, and they agree that it is not unreasonable at this time to close the Kindergarten to help minimize the spread of this illness in the school and in the community.

As testing is now limited to high-risk individuals (hospitalized patients, immune-compromised individuals, the elderly and infants), we will likely not have many more definitive confirmations. We must rely on symptoms. These include: fever, cough, sore throat, and significant acute respiratory illness.

The state recommends that everyone:
* Stay home (and/or keep your children home) when you are sick with fever and cough or sore throat, or with significant acute respiratory illness. Stay home until at least 24 hours after systemic symptoms have resolved.
* If you are sick with confirmed novel H1N1, stay home for seven days, or longer if symptoms have not resolved.
* Specimens should not be collected on individuals who do not have symptoms. Testing should not be done for reasons such as returning to work, or due to suspected exposure.

The H1N1 (Swine Flu) illness is similar to seasonal flu viruses in its symptoms and virility. It is currently the predominant circulating influenza in Vermont and the United States. For healthy individuals, it is generally not a dangerous illness. The difference that is most concerning is that there is currently no vaccine available to protect those at high risk for more serious complications from any flu virus. That includes:
* Children younger than age 5
* People age 65 or older
* Children and adolescents (younger than 18) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
* Pregnant women
* Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders
* Adults and children who have compromised immune systems (including immune-suppression caused by medications or by HIV)
* Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

Health Habits to Help Prevent the Flu
1. If you are ill or know someone who is ill, do your best to avoid close contact.
2. Stay home when you are sick
3. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
4. Wash your hands often and well
5. Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth
6. Get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, stay away from smoking and second-hand smoke
Thank you for your help and cooperation in minimizing the spread of more disease.

Sincerely,
Walter Nardelli
District Principal