Posted 9-12-09

Letter to Parents from Mr. Hutton

Dear MEHS Parents,
This Post is about the flu and our phone system:

FLU INFORMATION
Phone System
Article from Sentinel on Flu

MEHS Flu Information

September 3, 2009

Many school districts across the State of Alaska are experiencing students with flu, including swine flu (H1N1 virus). MEHS also has students with a mild flu. One case came back identifying the flu type as H1N1. As of this date, the symptoms are very similar among students who have the flu.

SYMPTOMS:

The flu that some students are experiencing is marked by a low grade fever of around 100 degrees, a cough, and head and/or body aches. A few students have experienced a higher level fever of around 103 degrees. Students typically feel lousy for 24 hours, and feel fine after that. We make sure that they are fever free for 24 hours before they return to class, as recommended by medical authorities.

WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?

PREVENTION:

We are following all guidelines of the State of Alaska and federal Departments of Health regarding the prevention of any flu. These include:

Cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze—have them throw the tissue away after they use it.
Wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. If water is not near, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Remind them to not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.
We have stocked lots of Kleenex and soap. Waterless hand cleaner is available on each desk and in common areas.

Vaccinations: Each student at MEHS will be vaccinated against the regular flu and H1N1 flu as soon as the vaccinations are available. If for some medical reason you do not want your child vaccinated, please call our clinic at 966-5204 to let them know.

TREATMENT:

Our medically certified on-campus clinic is manned by a nurse or nurse practioner from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. If there are any emergencies outside of those hours, we take the student to the SEARHC (SouthEast Area Regional Health Corporation) hospital which is only 100 yards away from our campus.

We are keeping students away from each other in the best way possible in a residential boarding school, which obviously is difficult to do.

Depending on how many students are or may be sick, they will be kept in the sick bay or in dorm rooms. Students will be attended by Resident Advisors or nursing staff.

Thank you for your patience in preventing and treating the flu here at MEHS.

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VOICE MAIL SYSTEM:

As of yesterday, our voice mail system went belly up! I apologize for this inconvenience. The phone company is trying to find an available module that works with our system as soon as possible. We know that phones are a major way you communicate with us and your student.

Thanks for your patience.

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MEHS Students Hit Hard with 'Influenza-like Illness'

By Shannon Haugland Sentinel Staff Writer

Mt. Edgecumbe High School has been hit hard this fall with a high number of kids missing school with ``influenza-like illness.''

In all, 74 kids -- about 20 percent of the enrollment -- at the state-run boarding school have reported flu-like symptoms since school started on Aug. 24. A day student from Sitka has been confirmed with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, and seven boarding students remained in confinement today as a precautionary measure.

Principal Bernie Gurule and MEHS Clinic Manager Nancy Cavanaugh said the school was prepared for something like this, and has been able to handle most cases in-house.

``Everybody is on the same page, expecting and planning for this to happen,'' said Cavanaugh, a SEARHC pediatric nurse practioner who works at the school. ``We put together a school protocol of what to do if we started to see kids with ILI (influenza-like illness). We were prepared for this possibility.''

They said they believe the worst is over.

``Kids no doubt are getting better,'' Gurule said. ``We're in the upswing. There's been no interruption of school.'' ``We're on the downward side of the bell curve,'' Cavanaugh agreed. She estimated that as of today 20 to 25 percent have had ``mild or subclinical'' influenza-like symptoms, and another 50 percent have been exposed. ``I'm assuming we're on the downward side,'' Cavanaugh said.

Gurule said it is not unusual for the school to see a high number of kids getting sick at the start of the school year. The first weeks are hard on many kids, some of whom are attending MEHS for the first time. Some don't sleep well when they arrive, or are adjusting to homesickness.

He said in some years as many as 40 or 50 kids come down with some type of illness in the first weeks of school.

``There's a lot of excitement, a high level of excitement, and a lot of stress,'' he said. ``Homesickness is understandable. ... There's a lot of factors in this.''

This year the school was especially alert because of the nationwide concerns about H1N1, and five students reported having flu-like symptoms the second day of school. MEHS is following state and federal guidelines for preventing the spread of flu among the students, Cavanaugh and Gurule said. A boarding school like Edgecumbe does not have the option of allowing parents to keep their children at home when they are ill, and has to make other arrangements.

``We have a full house and no empty rooms -- the dorms are considered their home,'' said Cavanaugh. ``We talked to the (Department of Epidemiology) about making reasonable accommodations.'' That means putting the sick kids into a type of confinement, called ``social distancing,'' which includes keeping them out of class and away from large groups of people, among other precautions. The kids who have flu symptoms have been very cooperative, Gurule and Cavanaugh said. ``They have been really great,'' Cavanaugh said. ``We've had good cooperation with the school and dorm staff, and the kids have been great.''

In the past weeks, 23 students have been asked to follow ``social distancing'' protocol, which means not going to class, wearing a mask at night in their rooms if they have a roommate, having meals delivered to them in their rooms, and wearing a mask when they leave the room or are around others.

``This is just a precautionary measure,'' Gurule said. ``We're not taking any chances.'' Cavanaugh said one student, from Sitka, has confirmed H1N1, and the school is waiting to hear lab results for three other potential cases. The treatment is about the same for H1N1 as for other types of ``influenza-like illness.''

In the meantime, Gurule said, students and staff are being continually reminded of the rules for preventing the spread of illness, including ``covering your cough,'' ``sneezing into your sleeve,'' not sharing food or drink, frequent handwashing with soap and using the hand-sanitizer that is available in all classrooms.

He noted the students who are well and still in class have been good about following the guidelines -- and policing each other when they see someone not following the protocol.

``It's good to see students self-correcting each time,'' Gurule said. ``They're doing a good job at that.''

Superintendent Bill Hutton is keeping parents informed by sending letters and emails home, Gurule said. Only a few parents have called to express concern.

Gurule said that students who become ill at Mt. Edgecumbe are better off than they would be most other places in the state. A nurse is available at the school 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the nearby Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital can handle more serious health problems.