eNews Archive

April 27, 2009

Dear Plano ISD eNews Subscriber:

The safety and well-being of our students are of the utmost importance to
us. At this point, Plano ISD has no known or suspected cases of swine flu.

What is swine flu?

As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Swine
Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A
influenza viruses. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from
person-to-person.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu
and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and
fatigue. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and
deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal
flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical
conditions.

What is Plano ISD doing?

- Referencing the materials presented by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) as the official site for information regarding swine virus.
This site is updated frequently throughout the day. The address is:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

- Collaborating and communicating with the local health department and city
officials.

- Monitoring this situation campus by campus with the cooperation of school
nurses and principals.

- Using proper hand hygiene and instant hand sanitizer.

- Providing education about respiratory hygiene which includes coughing and
sneezing into one’s sleeve or tissue.

- Exercising proper and standard cleaning with approved agents.

- Following guidelines for exclusion regarding communicable diseases which
can be found in the student/parent policy guide.

What can you do?

- It is the responsibility of everyone to help contain this virus by staying
home if you or your child is exhibiting signs of this virus.

- Please notify the school nurse of positive test results.

- Contact your health care provider as there are medications that are useful
in shortening the illness and duration of the virus if given in the early
stages of the illness.

- Avoid close contact with others if you are exhibiting signs of the virus.

- Encourage good health practices.

Our goal is to keep the students of Plano ISD healthy and safe. If you have
any questions please reference the CDC, your personal health care provider
and the school nurse. We will keep you updated on any changes involving the
students of Plano ISD.

This message is also posted on our district website at the following
address: http://www.pisd.edu/news/archive/2008.09/swine.flu.shtml

We appreciate you subscribing to eNews. Your colleagues, friends and
neighbors may sign up for eNews at: http://elist.pisd.edu. Archived messages
may be
found online at: http://www.pisd.edu/news/enews.

Jeff Bailey
Deputy Superintendent