Swine Flu at School

Thomas Frieden, the Director of the CDC, is recommending that schools NOT close when they experience an outbreak of swine flu.

Yes.  You read that correctly.  According to the CDC, schools should stay open and welcome students and staff with swine flu.  Instead of sending those with the flu HOME, which is standard infection control procedure, the schools should segregate them.  I guess the teachers with flu would teach the students with flu.  Maybe they would also designate “flu bathrooms”?  Are there classrooms equipped with negative pressure to contain the flu virus?

This is just ridiculous.  After reading the first part of the article, I told my husband “this is just to accomodate parents who don’t want to stay home with their sick children.”  I was right.

The guidelines are aimed at preventing further infection with the virus, but also intended to limit disruptions of education and community life.”It’s a balancing act. When you close a school, you have real social costs,” Frieden said.

They say that they are still encouraging parents to keep kids home but students AND STAFF who come to school sick won’t be sent home.

In this case, Canada has the right idea.

“Stay home if you’re sick, unless directed to seek medical care.”

If my kids are sick, I’ll keep them home.  If I’m sick, I’ll keep the kids home to make sure that they aren’t taking my virus to school.  If there is an outbreak at our school, I’m keeping my kids at home.

And we’re all getting vaccinated.  Take that swine flu!