Student Health Concern

H1N1 Information

As was predicted, the community of Grosse Ile is experiencing the effects of the H1N1 influenza (also called the Swine Flu). This is a new flu virus and most people have little or no immunity to the 2009 H1N1 flu. Recently, vaccines have become available to protect against the H1N1 influenza. Please check with your primary health care provider, our website and other sources to find out where the vaccine is being given. The signs of the 2009 H1N1 can include:

Fatigue	Fever
Sore Throat	Muscle aches
Chills	Coughing
Sneezing	Diarrhea
Vomiting

Most people feel better within a week. Some people have developed pneumonia or other serious illnesses.

At the school level, these symptoms are being reported to us and we are seeing more students absent from school as a result. The medical professions have told us that all cases with "flu-like symptoms" are being treated as the H1N1 virus. This means that they begin to treat the illness with the appropriate medications immediately.

This information is being provided as a precautionary measure. We ask that you carefully watch for any of the above symptoms and if your child experiences any of these, please keep them from school and contact your family doctor immediately. Please follow the normal procedure for notifying your child's school or his/her absence, including the reason for the absence. Children should be fever-free for at least 24 hours before the return to school.

Please refer to the other documents provide here to understand about sensible precautions you and your family should be taking. The school district is doing what we can to stay on top of this health concern but the spreading of germs happens everywhere - at home, at church, at special activities, in the grocery store, etc. All of us need to work together to stay healthy.