Help Schools Prevent and Prepare for the Flu: Participate in the National Influenza Vaccination Week

The Holiday season is here – one that brings many reasons to celebrate, but that also brings an unwelcome virus that can have a great impact on school attendance: the seasonal flu.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu season begins as early as October and can last as late as May. 

The CDC has announced the week of November 26 to December 2, 2007 as National Influenza Vaccination Week.  This event is designed to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination, as well as to foster greater use of flu vaccine through the months of November, December and beyond. 

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.  The CDC states that, every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and approximately 36,000 people die from it.

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza; however, sometimes people may become infected by touching surfaces contaminated with flu viruses and then touching their mouth or nose.

Preventing the Flu

According to the CDC, the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a flu vaccination each year.  October or November are the best months to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated in December or later is still better than not getting the vaccine. 

In addition, good health habits like covering your mouth while coughing and washing hands often can prevent the flu.  Also, it is always important to avoid close contact with people who are sick; stay at home when you are sick; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and practice other good health habits such as getting enough sleep, being physically active, managing stress, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating nutritious foods. 

What is the difference between seasonal flu and pandemic flu? And how can schools prepare for pandemic flu?

According to Trust for America’s Health document “Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk,” although seasonal flu is not a benign illness, experts generally regard it as a manageable public health problem. Conversely, pandemic (from the Greek, meaning “of all of the people”) influenza has the potential to pose a far greater threat to global health, sometimes causing a worldwide outbreak of serious illness and death.   

Several resources are available to help schools plan for a possible pandemic.  Part II of “Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk,” relays strategies to limit interaction among children to contain the spread of an influenza pandemic. It includes interventions organized by setting and severity, as well as information on school closures.  In addition, the current issue of the Department of Education newsletter “The Challenge,” provides resources and steps to aid schools with pandemic planning and showcases what Seattle Public Schools are doing to prepare for a possible pandemic.  Moreover, the CDC has a website dedicated to pandemic influenza which includes several publications to guide schools in their planning.   

To learn more about pandemic flu, please visit http://www.pandemicflu.gov/index.html.

For additional information on the seasonal flu, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.  The American Lung Association has set up a Flu Clinic Locator at http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.aspx?c=aqKGLXOAIlH&b=1015035.

Source: "Seasonal Flu," CDC website; "National Influenza Vaccination Week," CDC website; "PandemicFlu.gov," CDC website; "Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk," Trust for America's Health, October 2007; and "The Challenge," Vol. 14, No. 4, 2007, U.S. Department of Education.