Bellinghame Public Schools

H1N1 Influenza Update


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Last Updated: Winter 2010

A Message for Families and Staff from the Whatcom County Health Officer:

I encourage parents to complete the pandemic influenza H1N1 vaccination series for their children and assure that school personnel are also immunized.

Although the influenza H1N1 pandemic has receded after its emergence last spring and the second wave early this fall, Public Health is encouraging everyone who did not receive the H1N1 vaccine to get it now. Supply of vaccine is now plentiful and everyone over 6 months of age is eligible.

Immunity to the pandemic strain of influenza is achieved only by vaccination or by becoming infected with virus, with the associated risk of complications from the disease. We may or may not have a third wave of influenza this winter, depending upon the level of immunity in our communities, but individuals who are not yet immune will eventually become exposed to the virus. It is much safer to acquire immunity from vaccination than from infection and disease.

The pandemic has impacted children much more than seasonal influenza. Please look at the attached chart from the CDC, from www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly . It shows pediatric influenza-associated deaths for the past four seasons. The number of influenza deaths this season in children under 18 is two to three times the number in each of the preceding three influenza seasons.

The Whatcom County Health Department is working with the Washington State Department of Health, and the US Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to encourage parents to assure their children are protected from influenza.

• Children under 10 years of age should receive two doses of H1N1 vaccine at least 4 weeks apart. Many who received the first in the series have not obtained the second.

• Children under 10 who have not been vaccinated should start the series now. One dose will provide some level of protection prior to completing the series with a second dose.

• Children 10 and over, parents, and school staff should receive a single dose of vaccine, both to protect themselves and to protect those around them.

• Children and adults with asthma, diabetes, and other medical conditions that increase their risk of complications from influenza are especially encouraged to be vaccinated. Because some conditions result in less responsiveness to the vaccine, it is important that others around them are vaccinated for their protection.

Although seasonal influenza is a possibility, since this summer 99% of the influenza tested in labs has been pandemic H1N1. Vaccination for seasonal influenza is encouraged if supplies are still available, but the pandemic H1N1 strain is likely to remain the predominant circulating influenza virus.

Some pharmacies that offer the vaccine for adults provide it for children, too, and the Whatcom County Health Department also provides vaccine. If you have questions about availability of vaccine, check

www.whatcomcounty.us/health/h1n1 or call the Whatcom County Health Department immunization program at 676-4593.

Thanks for helping to protect our children and our community.

Greg Stern, MD, Whatcom County Health Officer

Stay home if you are sick

Flu is easily spread from person to person. Health officials have stated that the most important step to prevent flu outbreaks is for sick people to stay home. Please stay home if you are ill, and keep your children home from school, daycare and other activities if they are ill. Symptoms of the flu include:

  • A fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater)
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Body aches
  • Headache
  • Feeling very tired
  • Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea
Other steps you should take
  • Wash your hands frequently, with soap and hot water.
  • Cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough.
  • Don’t share drinking glasses, eating utensils, or food.
Stay informed

The Whatcom County Health Department, St. Joseph Hospital, and City of Bellingham have created a joint Web site where officials will maintain local information, guidance, and links to many other state and federal sources of information.

For more information visit www.flu.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. Other good sources of information include the Washington State Department of Health and the local news media.

District Plans for Response to Pandemic Influenza

The district has been working since 2007 on a plan to respond to a pandemic influenza event as advised by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Whatcom County Health Department. Our goal is to plan for the use of interventions that would help limit the spread of a pandemic.

Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease from a new influenza, a virus that is unlike those in the past. Influenza viruses cause infections of the respiratory tract (breathing tubes and lungs). In some people, complications of influenza can be severe, including pneumonia. Because people have not been infected with a similar virus in the past, most or all people will not have any natural immunity (protection) from a new pandemic virus.

The district participated in local pandemic planning led by the Whatcom County Health Department. More than 120 individuals from business, government, schools, medical care, community support organizations, faith-based groups and legal experts, met to plan local response. For more information on this planning go to: http://www.whatcomcounty.us

As a school district, we have been planning for how we would continue essential operations in various stages of an outbreak.

 

 

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