Information about H1N1 Novel Influenza
Information about the virus |
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As you may be aware, the Minnesota Department of Health has determined that the H1N1 Novel Influenza is widespread in Minnesota. Right now, H1N1 seems to be acting like seasonal influenza in terms of how sick it makes people and how it is spread.
Edina Public Schools is closely monitoring information about the H1N1 virus.The District is committed to timely communication with students, staff and parents as we learn more about this virus. Our goal is to keep the schools operating normally throughout the flu season. However, we will heed the advice of national, state and local health agencies to determine the best course of action. We will follow the established guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health for exclusion of students and staff with influenza-like illness. This Web page, as well as other communications vehicles, will be used to inform you of the latest updates.
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Information about the virus
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, most people who have had novel H1N1 flu in Minnesota have gotten better without complications. However, like any flu virus, novel H1N1 can be a serious disease. Some people have been hospitalized with novel H1N1, and several deaths have occurred from it. Most people who had novel H1N1 in Minnesota have been school-aged children. People at high risk for complications from influenza (including seasonal and novel H1N1 influenza) are those with underlying medical conditions (such as heart, lung or kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, or a suppressed immune system), pregnant women, children under 5 years of age (especially those under age 2 ) or people over age 65.
See recommended resources to learn more about the virus.
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Updates
Update from Bloomington Public Health
3-1-10
Bloomington Public Health is hosting an H1N1 vaccination clinic on Thursday, March 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Cornelia Elementary School (7000 Cornelia Drive, Edina) in the cafeteria. The vaccination is free and open to everyone. Click here for more information.
Update from Hennepin County and Minnesota Visiting Nurses Agency
1-29-10
Health experts warn that the H1N1 flu outbreak may resurge again this winter. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you’re encouraged to do so now. Hennepin County and the Minnesota Visiting Nurses Agency will be providing H1N1 flu shots to all children, youth and adults throughout the month of February. Click here for more information.
Update from Bloomington Public Health
1-15-10
Bloomington Public Health is hosting an H1N1 flu vaccination clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 4 - 7 p.m. at Bloomington City Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd. (enter west door). The clinic is open to all residents of Bloomington, Edina or Richfield.
Update from Bloomington Public Health
12-7-09
Bloomington Public Health will be holding an H1N1 flu vaccination clinic on Wednesday, Dec. 16 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Valley View Middle School located at 6750 Valley View Rd. in Edina. All residents under the age of 18 must have a consent form signed by a parental guardian. To save time, you can access the form here and fill it out in advance. To access this form in Spanish, click here.
H1N1 flu vaccine is for Bloomington, Edina and Richfield residents who are:
- Ages 6 months through 24 years, whether or not they have a medical condition
- Ages 25 years through 64 years with a chronic medical condition
- Pregnant women
- Living with or caring for children under 6 months of age
- Working as a health care provider or as emergency medical services personnel
Update from Bloomington Public Health
11-17-09
Bloomington Public Health will be holding an H1N1 flu vaccination clinic on Saturday, November 21 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. There is a limited amount of vaccine available for this clinic. For this reason, we are offering vaccination to Edina residents in the following groups at this time:
- All children ages 6 months through 9 years
- Children ages 10 through 18 years with chronic illness
(such as asthma, diabetes, heart, kidney, and lung problems)
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old
H1N1 Clinic Details
Date: Saturday, Nov. 21
Time: 9:00 am -11:00 am
Location: South View Middle School
4725 South View Lane
Edina, Minnesota 55424
(Near Edina Community Center and the
intersection of South View Ln and Concord Dr)
Update from Bloomington Public Health
11-10-09
Bloomington Public Health will be holding the first H1N1 flu vaccination clinic on Saturday, November 14 at 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. There is a limited amount of vaccine available for this clinic. For this reason, we are offering vaccination to Bloomington, Edina and Richfield residents in the following groups ONLY at this time: Pregnant women and children ages 6 months through 23 months.
Clinic Details
Date: Saturday, November 14
Time: 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Location: Kennedy High School
Media Center – Main Entrance
9701 Nicollet Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55420
Minnesota Department of Health Guideline Change
Updated 11-03-09
As with many Minnesota school districts, influenza-like illness (ILI) is widespread in Edina Public Schools (EPS). Our District notifies parents based on the guidelines provided by the Minnesota Department of Health. These guidelines have recently changed. The Minnesota Department of Health has asked all school districts to hold off on further reporting until student absences due to ILI return to normal. As a result, EPS will discontinue parent notifications until we reach another Minnesota Department of Health reporting threshold. If you would like to stay informed about student absences, Edina Public Schools will provide weekly reports of the schools that have at least 5 percent of the student body absent due to ILI. These updates will be available on this page. If you have any questions, please contact your school’s health office.
As always, EPS encourages you and your family to engage in the following basic prevention tactics:
- Wash hands frequently (use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available)
- Cough or sneeze into your sleeve
- Keep hands away from mouth, nose and eyes
- Stay home when you have a fever of 100 degrees or greater and a cough or sore throat. Do not return to school or other community activities until you have been fever free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication
Notice from Edina Public Schools Health Services
9-21-09
Absences due to influenza-like illness are being reported in Edina Public Schools. The Minnesota Department of Health anticipates that there will be a peak in student illness due to influenza. In order to prevent the spread of influenza, please:
- keep your children home from school when they have a temperature of 100 degrees and a cough, sore throat, or muscle aches.
- report the absence on the attendance line, and specify if your son or daughter has a temperature of 100 degrees F and a cough, sore throat, or muscle aches.
- keep your child home at least 24 hours after his/her fever has broken without the aid of fever-reducing medications. (pre-k and early childhood students should stay home for seven days after the first signs of illness).
Notice from Minnesota Department of Health
9-18-09
The Minnesota Department of Health is recommending that early childhood and pre-k students who have the flu to stay home seven days after first signs of illness. More
Student absences due to ILI
Student absences due to influenza-like-illness (ILI) peaked during the last week of October and the first week of November. After a quiet period with sporadic reports of student absences due to ILI, the health services offices are now starting to see some ILI-related student absences.
Week of Jan. 18-22
During the week of January 18-22, Concord Elementary School met one of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reporting thresholds for student absences due to ILI. The remaining eight schools have had some student absences due to ILI but they have not met reporting MDH thresholds.
Week of Nov. 9-13
None of our nine schools reported absences of 5 percent or more due to ILI.
Week of Nov. 2-6
Three of our nine public schools had at least 5 percent of the student population absent due to ILI. These schools were Cornelia, Highlands and Normandale. Another update will be posted next Monday.
Week of Oct. 26-30
Five of the nine public schools had at least 5 percent of the student population absent due to ILI. These schools were Cornelia, Countryside, Creek Valley, Highlands, and Normandale.
Prevent the spread
Edina Public Schools is encouraging its students and staff to engage in basic prevention strategies such as hand washing, coughing into your sleeve and staying home when sick. People can spread the flu 24 hours before showing symptoms. Hand washing and coughing into your sleeve are the most effective in preventing the spread of a virus– use hand sanitizers when hand washing is not an option. We are asking parents to encourage these behaviors during non-school hours.
Cover Your Cough Poster When to stay home
If you or your child has any of the following symptoms and a fever, you are asked to stay home at least 24 hours after your fever has broken without the use of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol.
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
Influenza-like symptom screening tool
Resources
Minnesota Department of Health
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Information sent out to parents
H1N1 letter to parents
Information letter from the Minnesota Department of Health
Contact
If you have questions about H1N1, please contact your physician.
Please contact your school nurse for questions regarding Edina Public Schools' handling of flu-like illness.
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