Dear ASFM Parents:

We have been dealing with cases of the flu since school opened in August. Fortunately, it appears that the numbers of sick students have dropped significantly over the past two weeks. However, since it is likely that we will continue to have more cases, I thought I would share some information about the flu that I found from the CDC and WHO that should be of interest to all parents:

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Influenza A (H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza in humans.

In June 2009, WHO (World Health Organization) declared that flu due to a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic.

Influenza A virus strains are assigned an H number and an N number based on the forms of the two proteins that are found on the surface of the virus. There are 16 H and 9 N subtypes in birds but only H 1,2,and 3 and N 1 and 2 in humans.

Swine flu virus include Influenza C and subtypes of Influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, and H3N2, and H2N3.

Among ASFM students and teachers, we have had many cases of Influenza A; we have had a few confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) but many of the Influenza A cases could be A (H1N1) but since the treatment is the same, many doctors are not ordering the expensive test to determine the strain of the Influenza A virus.

Due to the unique genetic composition of the novel swine origin A (H1N1) flu virus, no one has immunity. Previous immunizations with the regular seasonal flu vaccine provide no protection for the new strain of swine origin A (H1N1) flu virus that is responsible for the current flu pandemic. The vaccine should be available soon. After testing the new vaccine, the latest report states that children under ten years of age will need to receive two vaccinations, 21 days apart, to provide immunity. People older than ten years of age will be protected with one dose of the vaccine.

The following comes from the World Health Organization:

School closures and class suspensions

Decisions about if and when schools should be closed during the pandemic are complex and highly context-specific. WHO cannot provide specific recommendations for or against school closure that are applicable to all settings. However, some general guidance comes from recent experience in several countries in both the northern and southern hemispheres, mathematical modelling, and experience during seasonal epidemics of influenza.

School closure can operate as a proactive measure, aimed at reducing transmission in the school and spread into the wider community. School closure can also be a reactive measure, when schools close or classes are suspended because high levels of absenteeism among students and staff make it impractical to continue classes.

The main health benefit of proactive school closure comes from slowing down the spread of an outbreak within a given area and thus flattening the peak of infections. This benefit becomes especially important when the number of people requiring medical care at the peak of the pandemic threatens to saturate or overwhelm health care capacity. By slowing the speed of spread, school closure can also buy some time as countries intensify preparedness measures or build up supplies of vaccines, antiviral drugs, and other interventions.

The timing of school closure is critically important. Modelling studies suggest that school closure has its greatest benefits when schools are closed very early in an outbreak, ideally before 1% of the population falls ill. Under ideal conditions, school closure can reduce the demand for health care by an estimated 30–50% at the peak of the pandemic. However, if schools close too late in the course of a community-wide outbreak, the resulting reduction in transmission is likely to be very limited.

Policies for school closure need to include measures that limit contact among students when not in school. If students congregate in a setting other than a school, they will continue to spread the virus, and the benefits of school closure will be greatly reduced, if not negated.

Based on the above, I see little benefit at this time to contemplate a school closure. We are way past the 1% level of transmission so closing school at this point would seem to have a very limited benefit.

Sincerely,
D. Jeffrey Keller, Superintendent

Dear Parents:

Please be aware of the following information topics:

* Flu symptom clarification - We will continue to follow the conservative protocol recommended by the CDC ( Center for Disease Control) as stated in Dr. D. Keller's letter that has been on the School web page since September 1st. This stated that students with confirmed cases of H1N1 should remain at home for at least 24 hours after they are free of fever and other flu-like symptoms. Due to the fact that most doctors are no longer testing for H1N1 because of the additional expense and length it takes to get the results, we are using the same protocol with students who have confirmed cases of Type A Influenza.
Parents with one sick child are also asked to keep the siblings home for five days. During that period these children may/ may not get the flu since the incubation period is between 2-5 days.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us enforce these measures. Our best, and perhaps only line of defense is to keep infected children away from those who are free of the virus. Also be aware we are following the same protocol with the staff. Please be reminded that any children who have symptoms will be sent home. Siblings of children who are ill will also be sent home.
The office will inform you when/if there are cases of Type A Influenza or H1N1 in your child's classroom via an email. Please call, or send an email to one of the three secretaries if your child is absent:
Nursery - grade 2 rocio.cabrera@asfm.edu.mx
Grades 3-5 maricela.buenfil@asfm.edu.mx or monica.tello@asfm.edu.mx

* School World - Please be aware that the teachers are now using the Elementary online learning platform, School World, to post homework and content. It is very important that you become familiar with this site as a means of supporting your child's school work in the case of an absence. Given the numbers of children who are coming down with the Influenza Virus, it is highly probable that your child will contract the illness at some point. It is important to be ready because we rely on your support as a way of providing access to the learning for students who are absent. You can access School World by going to your child's teacher's ASFM Webpage, where you will find a link to the teacher's School World site.
We kindly request that you read the instructions thoroughly before emailing the classroom teacher. A video from a parent session in 2C will help you become familiar with the expectations for parental support and involvement.

Thank you,
Elementary Administrative Team

Flu guidelines for parents
From Dr. Jeff Keller SEP 1 , 2009 1:30 P.M.

There may be some confusion concerning the measures we have implemented as a school in out efforts to protect the entire school community. We are asking parents of a child who does get the flu to not only take care of their sick child but also do the responsible thing to try to protect their child's classmates from getting infected. So we have followed the CDC's suggestion that students with a confirmed case of the H1N1flu virus remain home for up to seven days or twenty four hours after they are free of fever and other flu-like symptoms. (Fulano) may have been diagnosed last (day of the week), but I suspect he was not feeling well even before (day of the week) when he first stayed home. If he is free from fever, and is no longer taking any medication to reduce or control his temperature, then I suggest you check with your doctor to determine if he is no longer contagious and if so, he can return to school. As a point of clarification, a "normal" temperature is 98.6 F and 36.5 C. Until (Fulano) reaches those levels for 24 hours without medication, he is not fever-free.

We have asked parents who have one child sick to keep the other children home for five days. In that period of time, they are either going to get the flu or not get the flu since the incubation period appears to be 2-3 days. So all of your children should have stayed home last (day of the week) when (Fulano) was diagnosed. If by the end of today, the five day period, the siblings do not exhibit any signs of flu, then they could return to school tomorrow.

In the big scheme of life, missing a few days of school is not going to have any major impact on your children. We are counting on parents to not only be concerned with their own children's health and safety, but to also look out for the welfare of other children.

We have taken a very aggressive measure by asking that siblings stay home for five days. This is one of those times that we prefer to err on the side of caution in the attempt to reduce the impact on an entire school community. At this point, we think it is irresponsible of parents to send their other children to school if they have a child with flu-like symptoms.

I hope you can understand that it is our responsibility to try to protect an entire school community. This is one of those times that individual families may have to make a small sacrifice for the well-being of the larger community. We hope that we can limit the number of flu cases by taking this aggressive measure.

Sincerely,
D. Jeffrey Keller, Superintendent

Dear Parents:

The following flyer from the CDC is an excellent source of information from a parent perspective on the Seasonal Flu and the A/H1N1 Virus.

The School will take every precaution necessary to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for your children. Like we have stated before, we need to work together to instill healthy habits, and we need to keep children with any signs of the flu at home until medical advice is sought. This includes not sending brothers and sisters to School until you are certain they are not carriers of the virus. We realize this raises a concern regarding the absences from school. Please be assured that we are working on our contingency plan involving online learning to ensure that there is minimal interruption to the learning in the event of individual absences, or in the worse possible scenario, of an outbreak amongst our school community. This plan will be published shortly.

Our best line of defense is to protect others by keeping sick children and potentially contagious siblings at home.
We truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Sonia Keller
Elementary Principal