Due to inconsistencies in flu reporting, MISD has decided to remove the Type A flu chart from the website.  An increasing number of students are reporting flu, but do not know which sub type (Type A or Type B) and there are a number of students with influenza like illness (ILI) that have not seen a doctor.  MISD does not want to report inaccurate information, so it is best to remove the Type A flu chart from our webpage. Instead of the Type A flu chart, we are now keeping an absence from school chart instead, which gives a weekly average attendance for each campus.

Nurses will continue to collect flu data and report to Ellis County Emergency Management and the Ellis County Medical Director each week.  It is important for parents to call the school nurse if their child is out with the flu.  To help slow the spread of the influenza virus, it is important to keep your child home if they show flu-like symptoms.  Students are not to return to school until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.  Any further questions can be directed to your child’s school nurse.

Midlothian ISD will continue to follow recommendations from the CDC and Ellis County in preparing for new cases of influenza A virus that are expected to increase in this area in the coming months.

Questions & Answers

What are the symptoms that determine whether a child has influenza-like illness?

Symptoms most frequently reported with Type A influenza are fever, cough, and sore throat. Other symptoms include body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, and vomiting and diarrhea.

How does the flu virus spread?

Flu viruses are spread through respiratory droplets in coughs or sneezes of infected persons. Infection may occur through direct contact as the droplets land on someone else’s mouth or nose or when those droplets land on a surface or object and are picked up on the hands of another person who then touches their own mouth or nose.  All reports indicate that the virus usually is only contagious for a few hours after exposure to air.

Is there a way to prevent the spread of the flu?

Yes! Prevention is based on limiting exposure through the following:

1. Through frequent hand washing with soap
2. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose
3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash
4. Wash your hands with soap or use a hand sanitizer after using a tissue
5. Avoid close contact with people who are sick

How is a diagnosis of H1N1 flu “confirmed?”

There is some confusion surrounding the use of the phrase “confirmed case of H1N1.”  Early cases of flu seen, that were tested, were predominately Influenza A, subtype H1N1.  When students or staff members go to the doctor, they are tested for Influenza A or B. When positive for Type A, they may be diagnosed with H1N1 because that is currently the predominant strain being seen.  According to Ellis County Health Department, testing for H1N1 is only done when patients are admitted to the hospital.  Those H1N1 diagnoses are reported on the county health department web site.  As a result, Midlothian ISD is following CDC guidelines and referring to all of these cases as simply “flu.” 

When can students return to school after having the flu?

People with the flu should stay home until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Are there currently flu cases in Midlothian ISD?

We have experienced reports of influenza-like illness in the district since the first week of school.  Those numbers will fluctuate over time with some campuses seeing higher rates of flu-like illness and absenteeism while others remain more stable.  This is a new strain of the flu and our community has no immunity to it, therefore, we expect to see larger numbers of students with flu-like symptoms or diagnosed with the flu this year than in years past with seasonal flu. The good news is that the H1N1 virus appears to be no more serious than Type B flu. As with Type B flu, the disease is more dangerous when the patient has underlying medical conditions.  Our goal is to control the spread of flu through preventative measures.

When will the district notify parents about known cases of flu on a campus?

Parents should understand that reports of flu are present on every Midlothian ISD campus, and new cases are reported each day.  We are in close contact with Ellis County Emergency Management and the Ellis County Medical Director.  Parents will be updated as new information is available and as the Ellis County Emergency Management advises.

When should parents notify the school of an absence?

Parents should keep the schools informed when their child is absent. Please notify the school with the specific type of flu. It is important for parents to keep up-to-date emergency contact information at the school.

When would Midlothian ISD close a school or the school district for flu?

The decision to close school is made in conjunction with the Ellis County Emergency Management/Ellis County Medical Director and the Texas Education Agency. At this time, there is no indication to close school.  When attendance on a campus reaches below 80%, we will closely examine the situation and make a determination.  There is limited benefit to closing a campus or a school district due to the manner that students still interact even when school is closed.

When will the H1N1 vaccine be available?

Flumist (or LAIV) will be available first and due in Texas in early October.  The flu shot will be available later in October.  No shortage of vaccine is anticipated at this time, although sporadic supply issues may occur.

What is Flumist?  Can it make me sick?

Flumist is a live attenuated (weakened) vaccine.  Flumist cannot cause flu illness but some people may have mild reactions.  Some people have reported runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, chills, tiredness/weakness, sore throat and headache.  These side effects are mild and short lasting compared to symptoms of an influenza infection.

Who should get Flumist first?

Healthcare workers and other healthy people who care for infants under the age of 6 months will be the first to receive Flumist. Children under 6 months cannot be vaccinated.

Who should NOT get Flumist?

-People less than 2 years of age or over 50 years of age
-People with a chronic medical condition such as chronic heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney failure, weakened immune systems, or those that take medication which weakens the immune system
-Children less than 5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing
-Children or adolescents receiving aspirin
-People with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome
-Pregnant women
-People with severe allergy to chicken eggs or are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components

How much will a H1N1 Flu vaccine cost?

There will be no charge for H1N1 vaccine administration in public health organized large-scale vaccination clinics (Texas Department of Health Services Clinics).  It is assumed if your insurance paid for flu shots in the past, they will pay for H1N1 vaccinations.  Vaccine providers can charge uninsured patients, but the cost cannot exceed the regional Medicare vaccine administration fee.

Who should get the Flu shot first?

-Pregnant women
-People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
-Healthcare and EMS personnel
-Children 6 months thru 24 years of age
-People 25-64 years of age who have chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

How many flu shots will I need?

The seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine flu shots are available individually.  The CDC is currently recommending getting both.  Children under the age of 10, who have never been vaccinated, need two shots of seasonal vaccine, and will likely need two H1N1 shots as well.

How long will it take for either shot to provide protection?

It will take about a week to 10 days for the shots to provide protection.

Please visit www.flu.gov and the MISD web site regularly for updated information regarding the flu.

Information obtained from www.cdc.gov and www.flu.gov.