With school starting soon, hundreds of thousands of kids across the state will be coming together, touching, sharing drinks, and spreading germs. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is concerned that H1N1, also known as the swine flu, will be returning, as well.
Spokesperson Stacy Kriedeman says the department is encouraging parents and school administrators to take certain precautions that will help prevent the swine flu from returning and spreading. She says they have reached out to schools, providing steps to take and a letter for them to send to parents with information about the virus.
Kriedeman says parents should keep their child home if they have any flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, until all symptoms are completely gone without being supressed by over-the-counter medication. She says the swine flu is more likely to affect people from the ages of 5 months to 24 years old, according to statistics.
She says parents should have their children frequently wash their hands, not sharing drinks or food, and using proper cough and sneeze manners. This goes for college students, as well, especially because it is particularly difficult to go home when ill.
She says the most important thing is that people are aware of how their communities are being affected by the virus.
For more information, visit: www.health.state.pa.us
Or call: 1-877-PA-HEALTH
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