Overview Of Pandemic Influenza (Flu)
Influenza, or the flu, attacks the respiratory tract with sudden onset symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, congestion, and body aches. Seasonal flu mainly affects the elderly, causing limited economic impact. Pandemics arise when new viruses, lacking population immunity, emerge; the 1918 Spanish flu caused 20 million deaths. Avian or swine flu strains mixing with human strains can lead to human-transmissible pandemic flu, countered through vaccination and infection control measures like distancing and quarantine, as antivirals might not be immediately available.
Pandemic Influenza Plan
We assist the community in attaining its educational goals. As part of this process, we are committed to providing information for the health and welfare of the educational community. Our Emergency Planning Team stays current on all relevant information and research involving potential pandemic occurrences. We will use current information to educate our parents, students, and staff regarding preparation and prevention.
If a pandemic occurs, the district will refer to the District's Pandemic Influenza Operations Plan for guidance, take direction from the County Health Official, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, California Department of Public Health and/or the Center for Disease Control and respond to a declared emergency as outlined in our Emergency Operations Plan.
COVID-19 Guidance Update
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and SDCOE have updated the COVID-19 guidance. The updated guidance will allow individuals to follow a more symptom-based approach than usual for other illnesses. Individuals who develop symptoms and test positive must stay home for 24 hours from the onset. A child or staff member with COVID-19 can return to school or childcare if their symptoms are mild and improving and they have had no fever for 24 hours. They are no longer required to stay home for five days. If the student or staff member with COVID-19 never developed symptoms, they may continue to attend school or a childcare setting.
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