The H1N1 influenza virus has been shown to affect school-aged children disproportionately and children are known to be highly likely to transmit flu viruses. Health experts are also concerned that the H1N1 virus could mutate into a potentially more severe strain as it spreads throughout the global population.
While H1N1 influenza vaccine production is underway, any vaccine will likely not be available until October 2009, at the earliest. Even if an effective vaccine is produced, it is possible that there will not be enough H1N1 Influenza vaccine produced for everyone to receive it at the same time this fall. Vaccination against the seasonal influenza virus does not provide protection against the H1N1 influenza virus.
Therefore we are taking steps to reduce the spread of influenza at St. Pius V. We want to keep the religious education/faith formation/youth ministry program functioning in a normal manner this year. But we need your help to do this.
- Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol- based hand sanitizer gel.
- Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
- Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or do not have signs of a fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
- Do not send children to religious education classes or other parish programs if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at religious education or other parish programs will be sent home. Sick children will be removed from the classroom or other learning setting while awaiting the arrival of a parent or another approved adult who may take them home. Please make sure the religious education/faith formation/youth ministry has updated contact information for you.
- You may reach our office staff at the following numbers if you have any questions or concerns: 507-263-4680 (Jean Edstrom & Debbie Bauer) or 507-263-4800 (Linda Rogers) or click on our e-mail address above.
- If H1N1 proves to cause more severe illness that it did in the spring of 2009, we may take additional steps to prevent the spead of illness. We will keep you updated with any new information regarding St. Pius V's strategy to prevent the spread of influenza.
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