DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING RECENT FLU OUTBREAK

Dear Buckeye Valley Community:

You have undoubtably heard of our recent issues regarding our increase in student absences reporting flu-like illness.  At the present time, our increase in the number of sick students seems localized to the high school and middle school buildings.  We have been in close contact with the Delaware Health Department and have reported our absence data and other information to them.  After speaking this afternoon with Joan Bowe from the health department, the advice we are receiving at this time is to NOT close school and keep classes in session.  Below is the official statement we received today regarding same:

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The Delaware General Health District, our Health Commissioner, Medical Director, Epidemiologist, and Director of Personal Health, have been working with Buckeye Valley Schools Administration and Barb Kirk-Chapa RN, school nurse, to review the recent increase in absenteeism.  As in the rest of the county, Buckeye Valley is seeing in increase in influenza-like illness.  At this point it is felt that there is nothing to be gained in closing the schools.  The number of children absent includes children who do not have influenza-like illness and may also include children who are not sick who were kept home.  The parent reports of confirmed cases of H1N1 are not unexpected but cannot be verified by the Health Department at this time.  It was shared with the schools and the public during the summer that increased influenza was anticipated this fall.  The faculty and staff have not been greatly affected this week.  The school has followed our recommendations by sending home children and staff who are ill, increasing cleaning during the school day and has increased cleaning of the school busses as well.  The Health District will continue our follow up with all schools to monitor absenteeism rates and illness severity.

Our message to parents remains the same.  Please keep your child home from school and activities if they are ill.  If they have influenza – like illness they should stay home until they are fever free, without fever-reducing medicine, for 24 hours.  More information on H1N1 can be obtained on the Health District web site: www.delawarehealth.org.

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Joan Bowe, RN, BSN
Director, Personal Health Division
Delaware General Health District
P.O. Box 570
1 W. Winter St.
Delaware, OH 43015-0570
740-203-2032

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As always, the safety and health of our students remains a top priority for us.  We will continue to share our absence data with the Health Department this week and will inform you of any changes in recommendations.  We are also doing whatever we can on our part by way of extra disinfection of our facilities and bus fleet per Health Department guidelines.  Thank you in advance for your assistance and we hope that all of our students get healthy soon.

Regards,

Mark S. Tingley

Director of Administrative Services

Buckeye Valley Local Schools

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