As back-to-school time fast approaches, the CDC is bracing for another flu season that could potentially be more severe than the last. This is why they just released their latest recommendations for state and local public health officials and school administrators on how best to prepare and survive the 2009-2010 academic year. Most of the points are common sense flu-prevention guidelines. However, the CDC is focusing less on mass school closures than on keeping sick children apart from their classmates. The most current recommendations are:
- Students should stay home when they are sick. They should remain home for at least 24 hours after they are symptom free, without the use of antipyretics.
- Ill students and staff should be isolated apart from healthy individuals until they can be sent home. Face masks should be worn by all who are presumed to have the flu.
- Wash your hands frequently and exercise good habits – always cover yourself with a tissue. Use your sleeves as a last resort.
- School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.
- Those who develop flu symptoms should speak with their school health worker as soon as possible.
Read more CDC Guidelines. Share your comments here.
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.