According to local physicians, several children attending school the McPherson USD 418 school district have confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu. According to a release from the district, USD 418 officials are in communication with the McPherson County Health Department to coordinate its response to this virus. The school is committed to following guidance provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
That guidance includes the following:
•Educate and encourage all students, staff and visitors to cover coughs and sneezes with tissue or with sleeve.
•Encourage and reinforce good hand hygiene. Ensure students and staff have time to wash hands and that supplies are available.
•Send sick students and staff members home.
•All ill persons should remain at home until fever-free for at least 24 hours WITHOUT fever-reducing medications.
•Provide a “sick” room for temporary location of ill children or staff members.
•Provide surgical masks for the sick person to wear, to reduce the spread of infectious droplets while they are waiting to go home.
•Encourage vulnerable students and staff members to seek early medical advice if become ill.
Following the Kansas Department of Health and Enivornment’s guidance, USD 418 will not be excluding siblings of H1N1 infected students from school.
If children are adivised, by their physician, to remain at home home, parents are encouraged to consider that advice.
The district will not require require parents to keep students home.
USD 418 is also working in conjunction with the McPherson County Health Department to administer the H1N1 vaccine to children at school-based clinics during the school day. These clinics will be scheduled when the vaccine is available in sufficient quantities. Parents will be notified of the clinic and written consent will be required in order for your child to receive the vaccine at school.
McPherson, Kan. —
