Health officials have informed us that this flu season is the most widespread in recent history. We have have identified multiple cases of the flu across our schools and we are working with the Health Department and our School Physician to protect students and their families from the impact of the flu. The flu vaccine, while not perfect, offers significant protection from the most severe complications of flu—talk with your pediatrician about getting your child the flu shot if you haven't already done so. Reminding children to regularly wash their hands is another effective measure against the transmission of the flu.
Information about the flu: Be alert for symptoms in your family: Fever, body aches, coughing. The disease is spread by coughing, sneezing, and contact with contaminated surfaces. You can help fight the spread of the flu: Cover your cough with a tissue, or cough into your elbow. Wash your hands frequently with soap. Stay home when you're sick. Do not send your child to school if she/he is sick!
What are the schools doing? We are reviewing our cleaning protocols to ensure that surfaces are clean and as germ free as possible. We are asking staff to remind students to wash their hands regularly. School nurses and teachers are monitoring for children who develop symptoms during the school day. Students are sent to the nurse's office and if they present with symptoms and/or have a fever of 100 degrees or higher, parents/guardians will be called to take them home. Children who are out sick, or who are sent home, must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. For more information, see the attached fact sheet from NJ Department of Health. For more information, contact your school's nurse, or call the Health Department at (609) 292-7834.