Dear Parents,

Over the past two months since the beginning of school, the H1N1 flu (called Swine Flu last spring) virus has continued to make people ill in Kane County.   As medical and public health experts expected, we are now beginning to see increasing rates of flu-like illness in our communities. These are rates of flu illness that normally occur much later in the winter months when caused by regular seasonal flu viruses.

It is important that we continue to take H1N1 seriously and do what we can to stop its spread. Both the H1N1 and seasonal flu can spread easily from person to person. We want to assure you that the Health Department and the schools are taking steps each and every day to reduce the spread of the flu and provide a safe and healthy environment for your children including monitoring absenteeism, supporting good hygiene and making flu vaccines available to all school children in Kane.

We ask you to continue to do your part.  To keep yourself and family from getting sick, you can follow “The Three Cs”:

Clean your Hands: Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.

Cover your Cough: Teach your children to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues, or by using an elbow, arm or sleeve when one isn’t handy. Teach them not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils.

Contain Illness: Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs (Tylenol, Advil, Motrin). Keeping children at home will help them get better faster, and at the same time help stop the spread of the virus. Please do not send children to school if they are sick.

Finally, we recommend that children get the flu vaccine.  There will be two types of H1N1 flu vaccine---nasal spray and traditional ‘shot’--- available through clinics at community locations beginning next Monday, October 26.  See www.kanehealth.com for detailed information. 

At this time, there is a limited supply of the vaccine, but we have been assured by the Centers for Disease Control that the supply will increase over the coming weeks.  As more vaccine becomes available, the Health Department, our community hospitals, pharmacies and doctors offices will be working together to make sure that everyone who wants a flu shot can get one. So, please continue to look for more information and updates at  www.kanehealth.com

 If you have any questions regarding the H1N1 flu or the flu vaccine, be sure and talk to your doctor or the Kane County Health Department.

With continued wishes for a happy, healthy school year,

Douglas Johnson                                             Paul Kuehnert 

Regional Superintendent                                  Executive Director

Kane County Regional Office of Education    Kane County Health Department