Has the flu come to your school?
The flu vaccine shortfall has made national headlines as citizens form long lines and even travel out of the
country to obtain vaccinations. As K-12 students flock to their classrooms, every runny nose seems suspect.
A Department of Health director discusses the realities of the 2004-05 flu season.
How is the flu season progressing?
As of November, the flu season is still gearing up, says T. J. Bucholz, communications director for the Michigan Department of Community Health. "The peak of the season in the United States is predicted to be from late December through January."
Why the major stress over the vaccine availability?
As recently as two years ago, "flu vaccines were sitting on the shelf," says Bucholz. "The increased public awareness began last year, when a major flu strain was not in the vaccine, so we saw some infections in children."
People have traveled to Canada and Mexico to find inoculations. Are they overreacting?
Advice for schools from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health
Encourage staff and students to wash their hands regularly using soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds. Dry hands with paper towels or automatic hand dryers if possible
Do not give aspirin to a child or teenager who has the flu. Reye's syndrome, a condition that affects the nerves, sometimes develops in children and teenagers who are recovering from the flu. The syndrome often begins in young people after they take aspirin to get rid of fever or pain
The flu can be spread from coughs and sneezes. Make sure tissues are available in all classrooms
Schools may be required by their local health departments to report flu absences when they reach a locally determined number
Closure of individual schools in the event of an outbreak has not proven to be an effective way of stopping the flu, but that decision should be made by the appropriate school officials based on other considerations
Schools should excuse ill students from sports activities, choir or any other activity that may involve close contact
Clean commonly used surfaces such as door handles, handrails, eating surfaces and desks. Bleach solutions and commercial disinfectants are appropriate
"The media hype has contributed to people's reactions," says Bucholz. "We've seen a 'Tickle Me Elmo' mindset — something not readily available that people feel they must acquire. And the public health services have touted flu shots for years, so to some extent they're a victim of their own success in getting the word out.
"But the important thing to remember is that this year's flu season is no cause for panic. If you're a healthy adult, even if you get the flu, it's a disease your body can handle for the most part."
Does the vaccine prevent you from getting the flu?
That's a common misconception, says Bucholz: "You can still get the flu even with the vaccine. It's impossible to vaccinate against every strain of influenza. Health officials try to determine which strains will most likely affect the United States, and order vaccines tailored to those strains."
So why get vaccinated in the first place?
"With a vaccination, if you do get the flu, the chances are that your symptoms won't be as severe or last as long," says Bucholz. "But there are other prescription medicines and over-the-counter treatments that handle symptoms as well." Antibiotics, on the other hand, are not effective as these medicines work on bacterial, not viral, infections.
Are schools more vulnerable to flu than other areas?
"Fortunately, most teachers fall within the 20s-50s age group and are not considered high risk for contracting this year's flu," says Bucholz. Among students, however, close contact with other children gives the flu a prime opportunity to spread. According to the National Institutes of Health Web site, "families with school-age children have more infections than other families, with an average of one-third of the family members infected each year."
Are school employees who come to work while sick responsible if the flu is spread in the school?
"No, there's no law in the books making someone liable for passing an illness," says Bucholz. "But why spread the disease? If you're sick, stay home. Most school systems have a good sick-leave policy and a viable substitute program."
Is it easy to distinguish the flu from other illnesses?
Major flu symptoms include body aches, chills, fever, dry cough and nasal congestion. But vomiting is not a flu symptom — not even of the "stomach flu," which, according to Bucholz, is a fallacy. "There's no such thing as stomach flu," he says. "What you have is a gastrointestinal virus, which is specific and separate from influenza."
How should school staff react if a child appears to have the flu?
Staff should be aware of changes to a child's physical or mental well-being, but "teachers are not doctors, and should not diagnose illnesses," say Bucholz. In most cases, sending the child home to wait out the illness is the first line of defense against the spread of the disease. Never give aspirin to a child with flu symptoms (see sidebar).