SBCSS News and Press Releases

County Schools To Begin Daily Reports Of Swine Flu Virus

2009-05-04

SAN BERNARDINO - Schools and districts across San Bernardino County are beginning a daily surveillance reporting system today to the County Department of Public Health to assist in the prevention of the spread of the swine flu virus.

The protocol calls for a daily reporting of illness updates at school sites, which are compiled by districts and collected by the County Schools office to forward to the Department of Public Health.

"We hope these precautionary measures help in preventing the spread of the H1N1 or the swine flu virus," County Superintendent Gary Thomas said. "Our schools and districts are committed to taking every precautionary measure to limit the risks to exposure and spread of this virus."

There are two schools in San Bernardino County - Cole Elementary in the San Bernardino City Unified School District and Clement Middle in Redlands Unified - that have dismissed students because of probable cases of H1N1 at their sites. Students are scheduled to return to class on May 11.

To help alleviate overcrowding at hospitals and health clinics, the Department of Public Health is emphasizing that there is no need for individuals who are not experiencing flu symptoms to seek medical attention. Medical facilities are reporting that families are bringing healthy children to clinics and hospitals to be "screened" for H1N1. There is no screening for the H1N1 virus and unless an individual is experiencing flu symptoms, there is no need to be tested.

If parents have questions, the California Department of Public Health has established a toll free H1N1 hotline: 1-888-865-0564.

To access information to distribute to staff, parents and students, visit the County Schools' Web section on the swine flu at http://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us. There are links to information and resources available from the California Department of Education, Department of Public Health and the Center of Disease Control.