Influenza A: measures for schools

Influenza A: measures for schools

Influenza A preferentially affects young people. In order to better address the school year, the Minister of Education Luc Chatel presented August 18, 2009 a series of preventive measures and organizational measures to overcome the best possible pandemic influenza outbreak.

Key announcements, distribution of information pamphlets and the closure of classes on the occurrence of clustered cases in one week. This measure already worried, no alternative form of care being provided.

Do not trivialize or dramatize

"We must avoid two pitfalls, ensured Luc Chatel, at the press presentation of the prevention against influenza A, August 18: trivialization, which would be the best ally of the virus and the dramatization that would effect of unnecessarily worried families. "

12 million leaflets for parents

Inform students when the return on gestures barriers, those designed to curb the spread of the virus, is one of the first concrete steps in this plan. Moreover, 12 million copies of the leaflet "Learning about the influenza A/H1N1) and the education of your child" will be distributed to parents. The medical school nurses and school doctors, will also be involved to educate and inform parents and students.

The Minister of Education also calls for vigilance of parents urging them not to take their child to school if there is any suspicious symptoms. If the infection is said in class, students will be isolated and then headed to her doctor.

It is from three cases in less than a week occurring in the same class or different classes with shared activities, including the canteen, the prefect of the department concerned may decide to close schools or not, "if by case ".

Nothing is planned for parents in case of closure

If the facility closes, it is for a minimum six days (the period of H1N1 virus infection is 7 days) and it will reopen after a complete and thorough cleaning of the premises.

But then, what about the children during this period? It will be everyone to fend for nothing in the plan is scheduled for an alternative mode of care or any aid to parents. "If we come to close schools is to prevent the spread of viruses. Therefore to protect children and teachers," insisted the minister. "That is why I am appealing to family solidarity, but it can also be solidarity neighborhood or within a municipality. The situation is very different from those who meet annually at Epidemic of gastroenteritis for example, where parents are required to keep or to keep their child for a few days. "

Vaccinated in schools or not?

Regarding a possible vaccination campaign in schools to curb the epidemic, Luc Chatel said that "this decision is the competence and the total liability of the Minister of Health. At this stage we have no plans for vaccination systematic, both collectively or for targeted populations. This question will in any manner specified in the coming weeks depending on the authorization of placing on the market in one or more vaccines, their availability and the possible indication for the most vulnerable persons (children, pregnant women for example).

Finally, in the case of prolonged closure of schools, it will not be provided holidays for children! Anxious to ensure educational continuity, the Ministry has already prepared in collaboration with France and France Culture, 264 hours of television broadcasts and 288 hours of radio.