Confirmed Case of H1N1 Flu at Hickory Bend
by Pamela Hollich
May 07, 2009
May 6, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Today the Illinois Department of Public Health informed Mrs. Bragg,
Principal of Hickory Bend School, that a Hickory Bend student has a
confirmed case of the H1N1 flu. Yesterday, the Center for Disease
Control (CDC) issued new guidelines to schools regarding school
closures. The CDC no longer advises school closures for suspected
or confirmed cases of the flu and in general, school closures are
not advised unless a high level of staff or student absenteeism
interferes with the school’s ability to function. Therefore, all of
the schools in the district including Hickory Bend School will
remain open.
There is no vaccine available at this time for the current outbreak
of the H1N1 Flu virus so it is important to take precautionary
measures. Last week special attention was paid to disinfecting
areas of the building and furniture in all fours schools that
receive heavy use such as student desks, tables, water fountains,
doorknobs, computer labs, and restrooms. The district has provided
hand sanitizing lotion to all classrooms since the beginning of the
school year and teachers re-emphasized the importance of hand
washing and using proper etiquette when sneezing or coughing. We
will continue with these preventive measures.
If your child develops an illness with fever and respiratory
symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other
symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, please
keep your child home and contact your health provider. Your health
care provider will determine if influenza testing is needed. For
additional information, visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov.,
www.cookcountypublichealth.org/swine_flu, or
www.idph.state.il.us.
Please be assured that we will keep you updated should any new
information come to our attention regarding the H1N1 flu virus.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Pamela K. Hollich
