April 30, 2009
(Brockville) – The Upper Canada District School Board continues to work closely with the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit to limit the chances of students contracting H1N1 Influenza.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alert to Level 5 for H1N1 Influenza and that has prompted the school board to send a letter home to parents and to the parents with children in daycare centres that are located in Upper Canada schools.
The Upper Canada District School Board has updated its Pandemic Response Plan and it can be found at the following link: Pandemic Response Plan updated May 5 2009.pdf.
Also, the following letter was sent home to parents April 28th:
Dear Parents/Guardians:
As you might be aware, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its pandemic alert to Level 4 in regard to the outbreak of H1N1 Influenza in Mexico and the United States. Although we are not aware of any current cases in our school board area, all of us need to be prepared in the event of a wide spread situation.
For the past several years the Board has worked diligently to prepare for such an event. As a result the Board has a comprehensive plan in place to address such an event. The Board is currently reviewing its plan to determine what next steps are to be taken to ensure the safety and health of your child.
Included with this letter is a fact sheet on H1N1 Influenza including some commonly asked questions with answers. Please take a few minutes to review the information.
In order to prevent the spread of H1N1 Influenza it is critical to practice proper hand hygiene and if your child exhibits any signs or symptoms of the flu please contact your family physician and keep your child at home.
More information is available on the Web site of the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit – www.healthunit.org and at Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).
For more information on the Board’s Pandemic Response Plan, please visit our Board Web site at www.ucdsb.on.ca and select the H1N1 Influenza news story on the home page.
Let me assure you that the health and well-being of our students is our top priority and we are doing everything possible to monitor the situation and provide you with information and updates. Please feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns.
Signed by the school principal
Also, the following letter was sent home to parents who have children in daycare centres that are located in Upper Canada schools:
Dear Parents/Guardians:
As you might be aware, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its pandemic alert to Level 4 in regard to the outbreak of H1N1 Influenza in Mexico and the United States. Although we are not aware of any current cases in our school board area, all of us need to be prepared in the event of a wide spread situation.
As you know we lease our daycare space from the Upper Canada District School Board. The School Board has a detailed Pandemic Response Plan. of which a section deals with closure of schools during certain levels of a Pandemic. Although the current situation does not warrant a closure of the school or our daycare, it is a good time to think about an alternate daycare provider in the event of a closure.
Included with this letter is a fact sheet on H1N1 Influenza including some commonly asked questions with answers. Please take a few minutes to review the information.
In order to prevent the spread of H1N1 Influenza it is critical to practice proper hand hygiene and if your child exhibits any signs or symptoms of the flu please contact your family physician and keep your child at home.
More information is available on the Web site of the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit – www.healthunit.org and at Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).
For more information on the Board’s Pandemic Response Plan, please visit our Board Web site at www.ucdsb.on.ca and select the H1N1 Influenza news story on the home page.
Let me assure you that the health and well-being of our students is our top priority and we are doing everything possible to monitor the situation and provide you with information and updates. Please feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns.
Signed by the school principal
The Upper Canada District School Board is also providing the following list of questions and answers for parents:
Q: What is H1N1 Influenza (Flu)?
A: H1N1 Influenza (H1N1) is a respiratory disease of pigs that regularly causes outbreaks among pigs. Swine viruses do not normally affect humans; however, the current virus has mutated and is spreading from human to human.
Q: How common is H1N1 Influenza in humans?
A: In the past, as early as 1930, H1N1 influenza infections have been noted in humans. From December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection in the United States were reported (Center for Disease Control).
Q: What are the symptoms of H1N1 Influenza?
A: The symptoms are the same as most types of flu – general malaise, fever, aching muscles, cough, sore throat, with some people reporting vomiting and diarrhea.
Q: If I have been in contact with friends or family who travelled recently to the outbreak sites, what should I do?
A: If you develop symptoms call your doctor and stay home. Your doctor will advise you on next steps.
Q: Can people catch H1N1 Influenza from eating pork?
A: No. H1N1 Influenza is not transmitted by food. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills H1N1 Influenza as it does bacteria and other viruses.
Q: How does H1N1 Influenza spread?
A: Influenza can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and people to pigs. Most often it is through proximity and droplet infection.
Q: How can I protect myself?
A: Wash your hands frequently. Make sure you wash with soap between your fingers and the tops of your hands. Studies have shown those areas are often neglected when people wash their hands.
Also, when you cough, cough into your elbow – this limits the spread of droplets.
And, if you are symptomatic, stay at home and call your doctor.
Q: How can human infections be diagnosed?
A: To diagnose H1N1 Influenza, a respiratory specimen is collected within the first 4 – 5 days of infection. As children may shed the virus over 10 days, the specimen may be taken at a later date. The testing is not done locally but by specialized laboratories and the results may take a few days to be completed.
Q: What medications are available?
A: There are four different types of anti-viral medications – amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamin, and zanamivir. Your doctor will advise you. The current strain is resistant to some antivirals.
Q: Is there a vaccine?
A: There is no current vaccine for this strain. However, if you participated in the flu vaccination program last fall this will likely give you some partial protection or at the very least mitigate your symptoms.
Q: Does the Upper Canada District School Board have a plan?
A: Yes. You can view our Pandemic Response Plan at the link provided in the news release above.
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If you would like further information, please contact:
John O’Connor
Health and Safety Manager
Upper Canada District School Board
613-342-0371 x. 1243