Swine Flu California

Swine Flu, more accurately known as H1N1 influenza has re-emerged in California since children have returned to school. This page has information and resources you can use to stay informed about Swine Flu in California.

The first shipments of H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine arrived in California on October 5, targeted for children. On the same day, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order that would enable agencies to bypass certain regulations in order to respond quickly to respond to swine flu.http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13492978?nclick_check=1

California health officials briefed doctors, nurses, and other disaster crisis workers about H1N1 at a disaster planning conference in Sacramento September 15 - 18, 2009.http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2183102.html

The California Department of Public Health has issued new guidelines for how students who are suspected of having H1N1 swine flu should be treated.

1. If a student is suspected of having the H1N1 virus, they should be sent to the nurse's office.http://www.modbee.com/news/story/818753.html
2. Parents will be contacted to bring the student home.http://www.modbee.com/news/story/818753.html
3. They can return from school after they have been without a fever for 24 hours after stopping any fever-reducing medication.http://www.modbee.com/news/story/818753.html
4. "Parents should monitor their children for symptoms of influenza type illness", and staff should "self-monitor" every morning.http://www.redwoodtimes.com/garbervillenews/ci_13168861
5. If a student is sent home from school, they should not attend alternative child care, or be out in crowdshttp://www.redwoodtimes.com/garbervillenews/ci_13168861

Although many school districts are planning mass vaccination programs for school children, others such as those in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda counties, maintain that they do not have the funds or the manpower to vaccinate every child.http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13272256