All Schools In Schertz District To Close - Swine Flu Precaution, Texas

Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS;  Respiratory / Asthma;  Public Health
Article Date: 27 Apr 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The Texas Department of State Health Services today announced that all 14 schools and two district facilities in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District will be closed effective immediately after several more flu-like illnesses have been discovered in the department's ongoing swine flu investigation.

All extracurricular activities also are cancelled.

The move follows the closing of the district's Byron Steele High School, announced on Saturday. Swine flu has been lab-confirmed in two students from that school who have recovered. Lab confirmation is pending on a third case who is recovering.

"We don't have lab confirmation for any of the additional flu-like illnesses yet, but we've found enough illnesses associated with some of the other schools that we believe it's prudent to close all of them before classes resume on Monday," said Sandra Guerra, M.D., a DSHS regional director and the public health authority for Guadalupe County.

She urged students not to be around each other while the schools are closed, noting that would "defeat the purpose of the closings."

DSHS is urging the schools' staff, faculty, students and their household members to avoid contact with others, especially if they have symptoms of a respiratory illness.

Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Health officials say everyone should follow standard precautions to reduce the spread of any respiratory illness.

- Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
- Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Source
Texas Dept. of Health

Further information on Swine Flu

• See a Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
• See our Mexico Swine Flu Blog

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