H1N1 Flu Prevention Advice for Campus Visitors
Keep watch for symptoms and practice good hygiene and social distancing
October 16, 2009
--Like most boarding schools and colleges, Phillips Academy has seen its share of probable H1N1 cases on campus, but the cases have been mild and have not disrupted normal campus operation. However, the school does ask that all visitors to campus, including parents coming for Parent Weekend on October 23-25, abide by the following guidelines:
- If you have been recently exposed to someone diagnosed with flu, or to someone who has flu-like symptoms (fever AND one or more of the following respiratory symptoms: cough, nasal congestion, or sore throat), please do not come to campus for seven days after your potential exposure, assuming that you have remained healthy.
- If you are currently diagnosed with the flu, or have flu-like symptoms (as described above), please do not come to campus until one week after the start of your illness, or 24 hours after the resolution of your symptoms, whichever period is longer.
Also, we remind you that the best way to protect yourself against the flu is to observe the following simple rules:
- Wash or sanitize your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid unnecessary social contact, including hand-shaking.
- Be alert to symptoms and seek treatment immediately.
August 24, 2009
H1N1 Flu Preparedness Planning for New School Year
Dear Parents, Students and Visitors,
Since the emergence of the H1N1 virus (known as “swine flu”) last April and its rapid rise to pandemic status a couple of months later, Phillips Academy has responded to the rapidly changing situation with a balance of caution and diligence, relying on the public health policies and the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other medical authorities. We have also consulted with our peer schools to develop a unified plan of action.
As the situation evolves during the upcoming academic year, we will continue to monitor the H1N1 flu outbreak here and abroad, using the MA DPH, the CDC, and the WHO as resources.
Community Precautions
In order to protect our community, we have established the following policy for anyone coming to campus:
- If you are currently diagnosed with the flu, or have flu-like symptoms (fever AND one or more of the following respiratory symptoms: cough, nasal congestion, or sore throat), please do not come to campus until 24 hours after your fever has resolved.
- Before arriving on campus, if you have been recently exposed to someone diagnosed with flu, or to someone who has flu-like symptoms (fever AND one or more of the following respiratory symptoms: cough, nasal congestion, or sore throat), please do not come to campus for 5-7 days after your potential exposure, assuming that you have remained healthy.
Personal Precautions
Here are some simple measures to protect against the flu. These were adapted from the recommendations made by the CDC:
- Sanitize (i.e., Wash Your Hands Frequently) -- It may sound obvious, but hand-washing with soap and water for about 20 seconds is the single best thing you can do. The CDC estimates that 80 percent of all infections are spread by hands. If you can't wash your hands regularly, use hand-sanitizers with 60 percent alcohol content. (Dispensers are available in many locations around campus.)
- Avoid (i.e., Engage in "Social Distancing”) -- Reduce unnecessary social contact, stay away from crowds, and avoid others if you're sick or if you're concerned that they may be infected. Isolation and avoidance reduce your chances of getting infected or infecting others.
- Be Alert (i.e., Recognize the Symptoms and Get Help) -- Swine flu symptoms are similar to regular flu: Fever, body aches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. If you don't feel well, seek medical attention.
Vaccination
We will start to administer the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available in September or October. If you have not already submitted your signed consent form for the seasonal flu vaccine, we strongly recommend that you do so. (It was included in the Isham packet mailed to families last spring. It can still be downloaded from the Andover Web site.)
An H1N1 vaccine is currently in production by five pharmaceutical companies, and it should be available by mid-October. The CDC and regional public health departments are currently planning for the distribution and administration of the vaccine. In its current form, it is a two-dose vaccine given several weeks apart. It is currently being recommended for all children and young adults from ages 6 months to 24 years. We will make plans to offer and administer the H1N1 vaccine to all students once it is made available. Students who live locally likely will have alternate venues available to receive the vaccine.
School Closing Policy
The CDC is currently suggesting that most schools will not need to close their doors even if they experience an outbreak of the H1N1 virus this fall. According to CDC director Tom Frieden, “It is now clear that the closure of school is rarely indicated, even if H1N1 is in the school.” In addition, government agencies are also suggesting that residential colleges consider, as an alternative to closing, the option of suspending classes for a short period of time if necessary.
With that advice in mind, our goal at Phillips Academy will be to keep the school open. Closing would become a consideration if the H1N1 outbreak began to cause severe illness, or if the Isham Health Center became overwhelmed with the numbers of students who needed to be isolated.
If a boarding student contracts the virus, or displays flu-like symptoms, the Phillips Academy policy will be to isolate that student for the CDC-recommended period of time and provide treatment according to the CDC guidelines. Parents of students who live within driving distance would have the option and would be encouraged to keep their children home for the recommended period of time.
Should it become necessary to suspend classes or close the school, we will notify parents. To help the school prepare for a possible closing, all parents should be sure that the school has their emergency contact and emergency housing information.
Useful sites for more information
To learn more about the H1N1 flu virus and the recommendations being made by government health agencies, please visit the Web sites below:
Thank you for you taking the time to read this information. If families have a health-related question regarding an individual student, please contact Isham Health Center. Otherwise, please watch the Web site for periodic updates on the general H1N1 situation.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Miller Sykes
Associate Head of School
Richard J. Keller, MD
School Physician