Classes Resume at Swine Flu-Affected Schools
Schools are open again in Middletown, Region 10 (Harwinton, Burlington), and East Haven after closing because of the H1N1 virus.
The schools had been closed for part of last week when a large number of students showed symptoms similar to H1N1 (swine flu).
Listen to a Region 10 teacher talk about her district’s closings
Listen to Pat McGlynn discuss why schools were closed in her district and the precautions teachers and administrators are taking. Pat is President of Regional Education Association District #10. (1 minute, 18 seconds.)
During the shutdown, custodians disinfected door handles, light switches, computer keyboards, and other items. Classes canceled because of swine flu concerns could mean an extended school year or fewer vacation days to meet the state required 180 school days.
Other schools may have to close
Teachers are being vigilant about keeping their classrooms clean and disinfecting surfaces that students touch to help prevent the spread of the flu, but more schools may still have to close.
According to news reports, several other schools in the state, including those in Avon, Farmington, Glastonbury, Berlin, Branford, and Madison, may cancel classes because students have shown H1N1 symptoms.
To learn the latest about the H1N1 virus as well as precautions teachers can take, visit the Connecticut State Department of Health, or the NEA Health Information Network (HIN) websites.
Why aren’t teachers included in any of the documentation presented by any of the health organizations? School nurses are getting the vaccine, but teachers (who come in contact with sick students first) aren’t even mentioned. This is an issue!
@Jamie – It is frustrating the teachers aren’t able to get the H1N1 vaccine yet.
Connecticut’s State Epidemiologist was asked why teachers aren’t in the priority group to receive the vaccine during his presentation to the CT State Board of Education in September. You can listen to his response at 59:50 here: http://www.cea.org/newsinfo/upload/Cartter-complete-presentation.mp3
He said that, due to the limited amount of vaccine available, it is being used to try to dampen transmission – and children are very effective transmitters of viruses. Nurses, as health care providers, routinely work with children whose immune systems are weakened for other reasons. I would guess that they are therefore also more likely to be transmitters of the virus.
Once more vaccine is available, the State of Connecticut will post information about where to get vaccinated here: http://www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch/cwp/view.asp?a=2533&q=448208