<p>Are you sure ‘evolving’ is the right word? Could it be that some people are just predisposed to a severe reaction to the virus? I don’t really know. I haven’t heard about it evolving. The cases are rising in the southern states due to school being back in session.</p>
<p>Ok. The stories are evolving as well, so I will just continue to add them:</p>
<p>[Doctors</a> Scrutinize WHO Swine Flu Warning - ABC News](<a href=“Doctors Question WHO's Severe Swine Flu Warning - ABC News”>Doctors Question WHO's Severe Swine Flu Warning - ABC News)</p>
<p>My son’s school (Avon Old Farms-school does not begin until Sept, 14) just sent a notice to parents that any child exhibiting flu symptoms with a fever (don’t have the exact number in front of me) will be sent home to avoid an outbreak that could potentially close the school. They will also be offering H1N1 flu shots on campus once they’re available. I would assume all of the BS have similar plans in place, but it would be interesting to hear if they are similar given the kids from many schools will have contact with eachother during athletic competitions.</p>
<p>Late last spring during the last couple of weeks of school they had a policy that if one student tested positive, they were closing the school for the year within hours and would also cancel graduation until a later date. The plan was to have the boys leave all of their belongings and depart campus.</p>
<p>I doubt they would do that now. The CDC guidelines now encourage schools to stay open, though they encourage residential students to self isolate should they exhibit flu symptoms. In this instance, boarding school most reasonably falls under the ‘higher education’ guidelines as they are much more similar with regard to physical layout. </p>
<p>Emory University has delayed razing an old dormitory. They’re using it as their flu isolation dorm. If a student has symptoms, they get their own room, get meals delivered and have internet access. </p>
<p>Back at the end of April, they really didn’t know how lethal or widespread H1N1 would be. The CDC has adjusted its guidelines as their knowledge of it has evolved.</p>
<p>Here are the latest guidelines:</p>
<p>[CDC</a> Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 Academic Year](<a href=“Influenza (Flu) | CDC”>Influenza (Flu) | CDC)</p>
<p>[School</a> Planning](<a href=“Influenza (Flu) | CDC”>Influenza (Flu) | CDC)</p>
<p>I haven’t heard anything new about it lately. My hb is involved with the pandemic response team so he’s usually fairly up to date with what is going on. He hasn’t reported anything new lately. </p>
<p>Our school sent out a letter as well, basically saying that they’ll try to keep the school open. They will consider other options if the infirmary becomes overwhelmed and their ability to isolate students is not adequate. I could imagine athletic games or any other activity that involves getting lots of people together in close quarters being impacted if a school had an outbreak. </p>
<p>Time will tell. In the meantime, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. Stay home if you’re sick. And stay away from sick people.</p>
<p>I have kept hand-sanitizer in my purse, desk, and in the car for years! Now I’m no longer the germ-crazy person–I’m the sensible one. 
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<p>Hopefully, companies and schools will have dispensers of sanitizers readily available to help keep this in check. It is frightening.</p>
<p>We can only hope that H1N1 =Y2K (remember having the instinctive urge to duck at 12:01 lol)</p>
<p>Still, this is all pretty unnerving. Any thoughts on the effectiveness of the H1N1 vaccine? How has it been tested?</p>
<p>I hope the schools use cleaning supplies that are actually disinfectants.</p>
<p>Last year, my son’s public school had a very severe outbreak of what was regular flu in Feb. (Or maybe it was swine before it was “official.”) At any rate, there was 20% absenteeism all month. Both of my 7th graders were out for over a week. Son’s progresses to bronchitis while Daughter’s didn’t. Younger son (1st grade) progressed to pneumonia but was treated at home with a nebulizer and antibiotics. It was bad. The school installed hand sanitizers everywhere.</p>
<p>I spoke with the superintendant about what the custodial staff was doing (wiping down desks, etc) and asked what kind of cleaners they were using. He told me that they were not allowed to use many of the most effective disinfectant cleaners because they were not considered “green.”</p>
<p>This troubles me.</p>
<p>Also, I don’t think public schools should give out awards for perfect attendence. My daughter knows two kids who regularly come to school sick and then check out after lunch so they won’t be considered absent and can still get an award at the end of the year.</p>
<p>This troubles me even more!</p>
<p>The data now suggests that the swine flu has been around before which is why adults usually don’t have problems with it. </p>
<p>Probably the best thing for kids to do is to put all the kids into the same room with one that has the swine flu so that they all get infected (aka Chicken Pox).</p>
<p>So, this swine flu is something that you generally only get once? Immunity is built up like with chicken pox?</p>
<p>or the second time is less virulent</p>
<p>You cannot get the same virus twice.</p>
<p>You can if it mutates.</p>
<p>Isn’t the common cold a virus? Does it change continuously?</p>
<p>I would check the CDC website www flu gov to be sure before changing behaviors and I would certainly not put myself or my kids into a room with anyone who has it! Check out the Spanish flu to get an idea of what an H1N1 virus can do to a population!</p>
<p>Yes, there are many different rhinoviruses (common cold). This is why children catch colds so much more often than adults; adults have already had so many of the different viruses.</p>
<p>I would prefer that my children (any hubby and myself) get the flu rather than the vaccine. Our physician concurs. I am pretty certain my daughter had it last spring and lots of kids are ill at my son’s school and many are not going to the infirmary. It is fairly mild (like any influenza, you are moderately ill) and then it passes.</p>
<p>Yes, you can get mutated versions of aH1N1 twice. During the 1918 Pandemic, folks got the mild form in the Spring and then re-caught the deadly version of the Spanish Flu in November. Its genetic structure had varied just enough to allow it to reinfect most everyone.
This is an interesting article…can’t wait to see the results:)</p>
<p>[More</a> Deadly Swine Flu? CDC Mixes H1N1, H5N1 Viruses in Tests - Health Blog - WSJ](<a href=“http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/09/17/more-deadly-swine-flu-cdc-mixes-h1n1-h5n1-viruses-in-tests/]More”>http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/09/17/more-deadly-swine-flu-cdc-mixes-h1n1-h5n1-viruses-in-tests/)</p>
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<p>The CDC in their letters to docs actually does suggest this. That acquired immunity is better than the flu shot for long term health. The flu shot for kids really “protects” the parents - ie they don’t have to take off work. Just as for the chicken pox shot. </p>
<p>There are, however, specific kids who should get the shot.</p>
<p>Interesting. I was halfway hoping my kids would get the flu during the summer and get it over with, but now that school is in session I’d much rather go with the vaccine even if the immunity from a natural infection may be broader. I just can’t see my daughter missing a few days of classes, it’s hard enough to keep up with the fast pace when she feels well!</p>
<p>Also, realize that it is not a “shot” with dead virus but a nasal mist with live virus. They will get some flu symptoms after it.</p>
<p>We don’t know yet which will be available at her school, the inhaled or injected (which I’m hoping for, to avoid even the minimal symptoms). At the drugstore clinic where I got a flu shot this weekend (CVS Minute Clinic), they said they would only be getting the injectable form.</p>
<p>for the swine flu, there is no injectable yet - only the nasal. For the regular flu, there are both.</p>