H1N1 Virus

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is taking general precautions against the H1N1 flu.

About 55 million students and 7 million staff will be attending the more than 130,000 public and private schools in the United States each day, soon. By implementing these recommendations, schools and health officials can help protect one-fifth of the country’s population from flu.

Recommended school responses for the 2009-2010 school year:

Stay home when sick:Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs.

Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette:The new recommendations emphasize the importance of the basic foundations of influenza prevention: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap and water when possible, and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).

Routine cleaning:School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.

For more information visit the Center for Disease Control Page at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/