News from the Superintendent's Office

Swine Flu Update: Maine schools, including Cape Elizabeth, to follow federal closure protocol should student infection be discovered

HLN1 (Swine) Flu Update
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
4:15 P.M.

As we are all well aware, the issue of H1N1 (also called swine) flu has dominated the news. The changing information regarding this flu virus and its effect on the communities in Mexico and around the United States and Canada has become a major concern for all of us. As noted in the website on Monday, the school system’s administration and nursing staff have been involved, keeping current with updates from the Federal and State CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] information and guidelines. The changing status of this requires almost an hourly review.

At noontime today, Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron provided a telephone informational session on the most current status of the flu and on planning for any possibilities. She informed us that, at that moment in time, three (3) adults in Maine have been identified with this particular flu. Although no school students had been identified then, there were many possible testing results expected. The Commissioner identified Dr. Dora Ann Mills of the CDC as leading the process in identifying cases. The identification of the specific person or persons will be confidential based on federal law.

On all matters of public health, schools are deferring to Dr. Mills, who is following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) guidance. The US CDC has issued protocols for school closure that Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Education will be following closely. They include

    * In the event that Maine CDC becomes aware of a confirmed or probable case of swine flu in a public school student, Maine CDC will contact the superintendent of the school in order to close the school and send students and staff home. If a sibling of the affected student is in another school, that school should also be closed. Dr. Mills will provide guidance on how long the school will remain closed and provide other support. We currently anticipate a closure would be for seven calendar days.

    * All superintendents should have plans in place to quickly arrange for school closure in the event that a case is confirmed, or considered probable, in one of his or her schools.\

     * Schools should activate their pandemic flu plans if they have not already done so. Most school systems have plans in place that were created in the past few years. Also, over 120 school nurses in the state have participated in pandemic flu training over the past two years.

Please note that Gendron will issue a blanket waiver to the 180-day minimum school year requirement for any school that is closed due to influenza, resulting in fewer than 180 days.

We strongly encourage you to stay informed about developments since this event is rapidly changing and resulting guidance is as well. The US CDC’s website has updated national information and guidance, and can be found at:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ .

Maine CDC’s website has updated Maine-specific information, including daily updates, as well as links to federal information. It can be located at:
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/swine-flu-2009.shtml or found on the Maine CDC’s homepage:   www.mainepublichealth.gov .

In review, the best of all defenses continues to be respiratory hygiene and increased education efforts in the school community (and all communities):

    * Cover your coughs and sneezes.
    * Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
    * Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.
    * Stay home if you are sick, especially with a fever.

Industrial hygiene should also be stepped up to include cleaning of surfaces, particularly public water fountains and bathrooms.

Any student or staff member who has acute febrile respiratory illness, regardless of travel history, should be sent home according to the local school board policy with instructions to stay home until 24-48 hours after the unmedicated symptoms resolve (no fever for 1-2 days). Instructions should be given to seek medical care with worsening symptoms.

AT THIS TIME EXCLUSION IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL OR STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY TRAVELED TO AN AFFECTED AREA AND DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS.

The H1N1 coordinating team for Cape Elizabeth Schools met today to review all planning and we will continue to send updates as information warrants, and Nancy Dube, the Department’s school nurse consultant, is in regular contact with school nurses via their listserve.

Please know that, at this point, we are making sure that all plans have been reviewed and contact systems are in place.

Alan H. Hawkins
Superintendent of Schools