H1N1 Running rampant at Sterling El.

There have been many cases of Swine flu at Sterling elementary school. (call them, they have to tell you if you ask) The administration does not want you to know because they are afraid that you might pull your child from school, and if that happens and they go below a certain attendance rate, they loose funding. So basically they are far more concerned with their money than with your child's welfare. but I suppose we shouldn't be surprised... this after all from a school that has for 3 years running failed to meet standards that the rest of the country continually meets. Good job sterling.

The CDC is reporting flu like illness is widespread in 46 states including Missouri. The idea of protecting children by closing a school will not work at this point. The CDC does not currently recommend schools to close just because they have flu cases.

The schools are following the CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting, sending sick children home.

Sick people need to stay home.(school, work, church, movies, shopping).

Wash hands often. If you cannot wash use hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching your face with dirty hands (like touching an ATM machine then having a cigerette or getting a stick of chewing gum)

Get plenty of rest.

When someone gets sick:

Control the fever of sick people and keep them hydrated.

Call the doctor and ask if they should have antiviral medications. Most people are fine with over the counter fever reducers, cough syrup, sore throat spray.

If they develope breathing difficulties or any of the warning/ danger signs listed on the CDC web site www.cdc.gov notify the doctor.

If you can take a seasonal flu and an H1N1 flu vaccination this year do so. Next year and every year after that take a flu shot.

www.johnsoncountyhealth.org has a schedule of clinics. They have an H1N1 clinic scheduled 2 to 5 pm on Wednesday.

For most people the H1N1 flu is a very mild flu however just like seasonal flu there is a number of people who get sick enough every year to require hospitalization and yes some die.

Accordingt to the CDC in a normal year that is 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths.

The difference in H1N1 and seasonal flu. Seasonal flu kills mostly older people. H1N1 pregnant women and children.

Again most people will only have a very mild flu.