CDC Reconsidering Guidance On Flu School Closings

[steven johnson]

Source: CBS News


(AP)  U. S. health officials are taking another look at their advice about closing schools because of swine flu.

The acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that one reason to close schools is to prevent the virus from spreading to the community. But in the case of school clusters reported so far, the virus was already in the wider community.

The government now recommends that schools with confirmed cases of swine flu close for at least two weeks.

Dr. Richard Besser says the CDC is looking at revising that but he didn't give details. He cited the example of Seattle, where health officials have decided they won't routinely recommend schools close. Instead, they want students with flu-like symptoms to stay home for seven days.



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/04/ap/health/main4990416.shtml

[quidam56]

1. I don't think the flu will be as much of a problem than any other flu bug until

it is combined with MRSA. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 We need a cure for health care in America !

[LeftyMom]

4. They can't "combine." Swine Flu is a virus, MRSA is a bacterial infection.

Seriously, that's like saying that shark attacks will be way worse when the sharks combine with hyenas. It's just a complete failure to understand the underlying biology.

[patriotvoice]

6. I, for one, welcome our new shark-hyena hybrid masters.

:beer:

[Liberty Belle]

2. San Diego State University confirmed a case today but is not closing.

Neither is the Polinsky Center for foster children in San Diego, though 3 other schools HAVE closed down locally after cases were confirmed.

SDSU has finals this weeks. I imagine the logistics of rescheduling final exams over ruled concerns over students' health.

That said, the disease has been mild in the US so perhaps the earlier closures were over reactions.

[kirby]

3. School closing is ineffective...

Around here, they closed a school. What happened? Rather than the kids staying home, they were outside playing and hanging around the mall/shopping centers. They were just potentially spreading it to other public areas rather than the school.

[jimlup]

5. I'm a teacher. My school is on the edge of closing...

We have not but several schools in our area have. I have my cell phone waiting by my bed for the call...

We are planning on going "virtual" in the event of a flu closing. Since we are a private school for privileged kids our students mostly have internet access. If we close, we go online from 8AM to 3PM and the students will be required to attend "chat room classes".