Cancellation of Classes at Reed Intermediate School, Newtown, CT – June 22-24
Discussions amongst the Newtown Health District Director of Health, the School Nursing Supervisor, the Health District Medical Advisor and the School Superintendent resulted in a collaborative decision that the Reed Intermediate School would be closed Monday, June 22nd through Wednesday June 24th, and would re-open June 25th.
The decision to close the school was based on several factors:
- 1) Increasing numbers of students were absent from school with Influenza-Like Illness (ILI*)
- 2) Students with ILI symptoms (fever, cough, aches) were reporting to school
- 3) Several students were sent home both Thursday and Friday with ILI
- 4) Students who had ILI were returning to school too soon after symptoms resolved and not adhering to the required 7-day exclusion.
The Health Director also received reports from parents over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday June 20th & 21st) that their children had seen a physician over the weekend and had been diagnosed with flu.
It is the Newtown Health District’s and the Newtown School District’s position that the schools are the safe environment for healthy children to attend. The events of the past week and weekend challenged that position. Some parents did not comply with keeping ill students home. There was insufficient confidence that the school could maintain a relatively ILI-free attendance, and, as such, there was unacceptable risk to the students and the staff.
Cleaning the Schools: Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface. By the time students and staff come to school in the morning, influenza virus on surfaces from the day before would no longer be infectious. Schools should continue to clean and disinfect the school facilities according to the regularly followed schedule. Routinely used disinfectants are effective in inactivating the virus.
Newtown Health District Advisory: Although Reed Intermediate School is closed, it is still critically important that individuals with ILI stay home and remain home for 7 days to limit the spread of the disease.
Prevention: Residents should take precautions to prevent getting or spreading the flu:
- If you get sick, you should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid contact with sick people. The most important message at this time is not new: Students and adults who are sick should NOT come to school or work. In particular, stay home if you have flu symptoms: fever and cough or sore throat, sometimes with runny or stuffy nose, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
*ILI – Influenza-Like Illness. The Newtown Health District has information about one confirmed case of H1N1 in our community. However, testing guidance and protocols have changed for the doctors and, as such, confirmation may not occur for people who are experiencing Influenza-Like Illness (ILI). The CT Department of Public Health reports that the incidence of seasonal influenza has dramatically decreased, as is typical for this time of year. It is very reasonable to believe, at this time, that most, if not all, of the ILI in the community at large is H1N1.
For more information on H1N1 Flu:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Newtown Health District Newtown Health District
31 Pecks Lane serving the towns of
Newtown, CT 06470 Bridgewater, Newtown
Tel. (203) 270-4291 and Roxbury
FAX (203) 270-1528
NEWTOWN DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
UPDATE H1N1 Flu: Seven Hundred Sixty-Seven Confirmed Cases in Connecticut
Cases: Connecticut: A total of 767 confirmed cases have now been identified among Connecticut residents. Among the 767 cases, ages range from <1 to 79 (average 18 yrs); 44% are female and 52% are male. Cases with known addresses are from the following counties: Fairfield (390), Hartford (76), Litchfield (13), Middlesex (5), New Haven (241), New London (9), Tolland (25) and Windham (4).
Laboratory-confirmed cases represent only a fraction of the likely number of cases in the state because many persons with mild symptoms to not seek care from a doctor or hospital but recover at home. There have been 28 hospitalizations reported related to the novel H1N1 virus, and three deaths. The patient was discharged fro the hospital and has fully recovered. For a list of towns with confirmed cases, please visit www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch.
United States of America: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports total of 7,927 confirmed or probable cases and 11 deaths in 48 states. This number changes daily and the most current data is updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:00 a.m. at www.cdc.gov .
PLEASE NOTE: Surveillance: ~The CT Department of Public Health is in close contact daily with hospitals, physicians, other health care providers and local health departments/districts. The Newtown Health District is in communication with the CT Department of Public Health and our Public Schools Administration and the school nurses regularly; as well as with our agency partners and the area hospitals.
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Prevention: Residents should take precautions to prevent getting or spreading the flu:
- If you get sick, you should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid contact with sick people.
- The most important message at this time is not new: Students and adults who are sick should NOT come to school or work. In particular, stay home if you have flu symptoms: fever and cough or sore throat, sometimes with runny or stuffy nose, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea. To avoid infecting others, please stay home and away from others for at least 7 days or until symptoms have gone away for at least 24 hours, whichever is longer.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Practice other good health habits: get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.
Symptoms and Treatment: People who become ill with influenza-like symptoms, which include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if they are worried about their symptoms.~ Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 Flu. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.~ People who are experiencing emergency warning signs should immediately contact their health care provider.
There is no vaccine for this strain of flu at this time. Patients can be treated with antivirals that may lessen the severity and/or shorten the duration of the illness. The use of the antivirals is determined by the patient’s physician
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H1N1 Flu: H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
Why is this new H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”? This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.
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Steps for area residents at this time. The most important thing to do right now is to stay informed and to take common-sense steps to protect your health and the health of your family.
For more information on H1N1 Flu :
What Does Public Health Do For You?
l Protects against environmental hazards
l Responds to disasters and assists the community in recovery
l Prevents epidemics and the spread of disease
l Promotes and encourages healthy behaviors
l Promotes access to quality health service
TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE
As warmer weather approaches and with summer just around the corner many groups and organizations are preparing for seasonal events such as church fairs, fund raising picnics and carnivals. The Newtown Health District wants to help make these events healthy, safe and successful by ensuring that food served at these events is safe for the public to consume. To do this the health district requires that any operation offering food to the public obtain a temporary food service license. If your facility rents space to groups serving food to the public, please advice them to contact the health district.
Organizers may obtain an application for a temporary food service license from the health district or online (see above) and should submit it at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event. Every applicant will receive a Temporary Food Service Guide containing basic food safety information and personal instruction on proper food handling. To review specific details regarding upcoming events please contact Suzette Le Blanc @ newtownhdsuzette@earthlink.net or by calling the health district at
203-270-4291.
The Newtown Health District is located at 31 Pecks Lane in Newtown. Please contact Newtown Health District for more information and to obtain a Temporary Food Service License application (download application above).
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