Most of you have already heard the national news of confirmed swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and many parts of the U.S. As of Sunday, April 26, there were no confirmed cases in Illinois, and no confirmed cases at any of our Chicago public schools. However, we are taking every opportunity to lean forward in our preparedness efforts and we will do so with care and caution....not panic.
Our colleagues at the Chicago Department of Public Health have been working closely with all Chicago public schools to ensure that we are armed with the most current information on the virus and the associated symptoms. We have also launched a comprehensive internal notifications process to ensure that our principals and faculty take the necessary precautions and proactive action measures to observe and report unusual signs of student illness.
Students and faculty members are advised to safeguard against the virus by following a few basic steps which include covering the mouth when coughing, covering the nose when sneezing and washing hands thoroughly.
Parents, you can also assist our prevention efforts by monitoring any unusual patterns of illness and keeping your child home from school if he or she has flu-like symptoms. Those symptoms include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Cough
- Body aches
- Chills and fatigue
If any of these symptoms are detected, the most important call a parent can make is to a medical professional and the school principal.
We appreciate your attention and cooperation in this matter and will keep you informed on any important updates as they become available.
For more information on swine flu, read A public health advisory concerning swine flu.