5-5-09
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have revised their school closure guidance to school divisions regarding regarding the H1N1 flu. Schools are no longer required to close after an initial confirmed case in the immediate area.
Initial reports of severe reactions in otherwise healthy children had prompted a more restrictive early closure recommendation. Ongoing evaluation of cases over the last week or so has resulted in a downgrade of the response when an infection is confirmed in a locality. The current guidelines consider H1N1 infection as just another "typical" flu.
The lessons learned and prevention strategies emphasized over the last week or more remain as good advice. The flu does hospitalize 200,000 US residents each year, and is blamed for 36,000 annual deaths. Any measure that may keep school children and staff from catching the flu is advisable. So, keep washing hands often, don't sneeze on others, and stay quiet at home when you are sick.
Read more about the new guidelines from the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/K12_dismissal.htm