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A message from BH-BL
Superintendent Jim Schultz
October 7, 2009
October has arrived, and with it
comes flu season.
As expected, we are starting to see
cases of influenza-like illness at all our schools.
In fact, ILI or "influenza-like illness" is a new
term that I would like all staff and parents to
understand since we will be seeing and using it a
lot in the coming months.
ILI is a term that the Centers for
Disease Control and state health departments are
using to cover all types of flu, and to remind
people with flu-like symptoms that they should stay
home and not spread illness whether their illness
has been diagnosed as a specific type of flu or not.
Just as last year we had many
students absent with ILI in mid-October, we are now
experiencing student absenteeism with flu symptoms.
A handful of these cases have been diagnosed by
family doctors as being H1N1 flu. I will not be
announcing the number of confirmed H1N1 cases of flu
we have because the majority of our ILI cases will
probably not be tested and because I want us to
treat ALL influenza-like cases with the same
precautions.
Judging from what our county health
departments have told me, we can expect this
situation to continue for some weeks or even months.
As a result, our best response at
BH-BL remains to follow the recommendations of the
CDC on how to prevent the spread of this and other
illnesses:
1. Wash your hands frequently and
thoroughly.
2. Cough or sneeze into your
sleeve.
3. Stay home if you are sick or if
you have flu-like symptoms. This includes reminding
students that, even when a big test or game is
taking place, their first responsibility is to be
well rather than to be in school when they may
spread illness.
I want to assure you that the BH-BL
nurses and I are communicating with the Schenectady
and Saratoga County health departments frequently to
stay on top of developments. This week I had
conversations with both counties about our schools
being used as sites for children's H1N1 vaccination
clinics later this fall. I will share more
information with you as it becomes available.
I call your attention to a
new handout from the CDC: "What to do if you get
sick." I found it to be very helpful at
answering the kind of flu questions I am hearing.
The BH-BL nurses have already been
incredible resources in this situation. But parents
and all staff have a role to play as well. Please
remember that sharing accurate information --
rather than giving way to panic or rumors -- is to
best way for us minimize and get through this flu
season.
Jim Schultz
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