Schools and parents of school children are being asked to help with tracking the new flu bug in Minnesota. Parents should keep kids home from school if they are sick with flu-like symptoms: fever and a sore throat, cough, body aches, or runny nose. When calling the school to report that your child will not be in school, tell them your child has flu-like symptoms. Schools are being asked to report to the state health department the number of children gone and the number of children sick with flu-like symptoms each day. Your child’s name will not be shared with anyone outside of their school. Thank you for your help!
To date, the Minnesota Department of Health has identified 16 probable and two confirmed cases of the H1N1 novel influenza in Minnesota. All of the cases so far have been mild. More severe cases will likely appear as MDH focuses its testing on hospitalized cases.
Four of the new probable cases are connected with Emerson Spanish Immersion School in Minneapolis. This brings to five the number of cases connected with the school, which remains open. The first case was identified Sunday by MDH. School officials have communicated with all staff and parents of students at the school.
MDH officials are contacting school superintendents when new cases are identified in schools. School officials are then communicating directly with staff and parents. MDH is also implementing a tracking system to monitor absenteeism in schools. Because the H1N1 virus appears to be behaving like seasonal influenza at this time, MDH officials expect to see more cases of the virus in schools, businesses and communities across the state.
High-risk groups include:
□ Children under five
□ Persons 65 and older
□ Pregnant women
□ Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary disorders (including asthma), cardiovascular problems (except hypertension), and renal, hepatic, hematological, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
□ Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
□ Adults and children who have any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders)
□ Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
