HOUSTON - Swine Flu is spreading faster than ever, even at a time when
there is usually no flu at all. It's in so many places, the World Health
Organization has given up trying to track it.
HISD's Health and Medical Services Director, Evelyn Henry, says school leaders
will use the lessons they learned earlier this year when dealing with swine flu
in the Fall.
The virus is almost certain to resurface at area schools. No one knows how it
will react or spread when kids are back inside classrooms, but Henry is
preparing for a resurgence.
"We want to be sure this flu is not more serious or more virulent than the one
we saw at the end of the last school year."
In the next few days Henry will meet with city health leaders to talk about
specific plans.
The Houston Health Department didn't want to reveal those plans publicly just
yet, but recently tweeted, "School age children will be a key target population
for flu vaccine in Fall. They may be vaccinated at school."
A swine flu vaccine isn't expected to be available until mid October, weeks
after students return.
"I know there is talk about school vaccination clinics at the school. If those
are recommendations, we're going to cooperate in every way possible," said
Henry.
How to keep children out of overcrowded emergency rooms and what to do if one
student gets the bug are issues that still need to be discussed, but already
Henry is warning parents to delay the start of school if their children are
showing flu like signs.
Source : www.myfoxhouston.com
