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We want to share with you information related to the influenza
virus which includes both the seasonal flu and
the H1N1 virus (Swine flu). This information is
provided to our district by the Hays County
Health Department and the Center for Disease
Control. As with any illness, we encourage you
to take your child to your medical provider to
be evaluated if he/she is ill. Influenza virus
is transmitted by contact with respiratory
secretions (in the air or briefly on surfaces)
of a person infected with the virus. The
symptoms of influenza virus include fever, cough
and runny nose, and other symptoms, such as body
aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea (more
common with H1N1). If you experience these
symptoms, please contact your health care
provider, who can determine whether influenza
testing is needed, and may prescribe antiviral
medication and/or other treatment. Because
Influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics will
not cure this illness. On all of our campuses, custodians will clean and disinfect as appropriate. Our transportation staff will also ensure the cleanliness and safety of the school buses. Each of our campus nurses, as well as our WELL Clinic staff, is on alert and has established protocols on handling suspected cases. All of our teachers and staff will be emphasizing hand washing with soap and water, clearly the most effective way to stop the spread of flu. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is also effective if soap and water are not available. Please help us by asking your children to take extra precautions such as not eating or drinking after anyone else, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, avoiding touching their nose, mouth and eyes and washing their hands often. If your child shows symptoms of any type of influenza, we encourage you to have your child evaluated by a medical provider or the local health clinic and keep your child out of school until he is symptom-free for at least 24 hours. Please let the school know your child is out with flu like symptoms when calling to report an absence. We also urge everyone to receive BOTH the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccination, when available. For their own safety and the safety of others, students should not return to school until they have been fever and symptom-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. The Texas Department of State Health Services has established a hot line for anyone who has questions about H1N1, 1-888-777-5320. Texas Department of State Health Services keeps an updated website, www.texasflu.org as does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/swineflu/. We will also post updates regarding influenza updates on our district website. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. We appreciate your support and understanding at this time. 
Letter to parents (pdf)
Carta a los padres (pdf)
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