Some schools experiencing high absentee rates, swine flu could be cause
With swine flu appearing at local schools, officials are stepping up procedures with a pandemic plan, and in some cases, extra cleaning.
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Updated: October 28, 2009 10:13 AM
Swine flu has hit School District 43 with some schools reporting absentee rates of ten per cent or higher.
But district spokesperson Cheryl Quinton says the H1N1 flu activity is random similar to how it is appearing in across North America.
Although the district has a pandemic plan in place now to deal with the flu, no special measures are foreseen for schools until absentee rates reach 12% or higher.
That's when extra caretakers are brought in to clean high-traffic areas.
Quinton said it's been tough to find caretakers because of budgetary issues and other reasons but every effort is being made to make sure they get to targeted schools.
In the meantime, self-prevention is key, Quinton said, and families are being advised to keep students home if they are sick, to use sneezing and coughing etiquette and stress consistent hand-washing.
Flu vaccines will be made available for teachers by mid-November but they'll have to pay a surcharge of $7.50 to cover the cost of the private nursing service. Otherwise the vaccines are free. It's not known yet whether Fraser Health will provide a vaccine clinic for students.
Children and staff who exhibit swine flu symptoms are isolated and sent home.
Tuesday, the board of education approved a pandemic plan as required by the provincial government.
