Alhambra's Governing Board

As you may know, an outbreak of the swine flu has caused the United States to issue a public health alert. The number of confirmed cases in Maricopa County continues to increase, and we are doing everything possible to protect the health of our students and limit the spread of swine flu.

According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Heath, the swine flu has similar symptoms as the regular seasonal flu and encourages citizens not to panic with this outbreak. Alhambra District has not closed any schools, and will only close schools if there is a confirmed case of the swine flu within a particular school. For more information on the swine flu, click on the links below.

Flu Symptoms
The swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of the regular flu that include:

Sick children and adults should remain at home and not attend work or school or visit other public places. Children who exhibit symptoms at school will be sent home in the care of a parent or guardian.

How Flu Spreads
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through the coughing or sneezing of people infected with the flu. People may become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it, and then touching their mouths or noses. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop, and up to five days after becoming sick. You may be able to pass the flu virus to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Prevention
The best way to prevent the spread of the swine flu and other illnesses is by practicing good personal hygiene as listed below:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after it is used.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
If you get sick with the flu, stay home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What Can Parents Do?
If your child is sick, do not send them to school. Home is the best place for a sick child. If you are worried about your child’s symptoms or suspect they may have the flu, call your doctor.

School Closures
Currently, there are no confirmed cases of students or employees having the swine flu in Alhambra District. Should there be a confirmed case of the swine flu, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health would contact the district immediately and would direct us to close only the school that had a confirmed case for seven days. Should this happen, the district would notify parents of a closure by sending a letter home with all students. School closures would include any activity that occurs on campus (before and after-school programs/tutoring, meetings, sport activities, clubs, etc.). Sick children and adults should remain at home and not attend work or school or visit other public places. Also, if there are siblings in the home who attend other schools, those students should also stay home. Should your child be exposed to the flu, symptoms would occur within seven days; sick children should remain home until all symptoms are gone for at least 24 hours.

Guidelines for dealing with infections can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Community Information and Referral public inquiry hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 602-263-8856 or 1-800-352-3792
Maricopa County Department of Public Health website www.wearepublichealth.org
Arizona Department of Public Health, www.azdhs.gov
Is It Cold or Flu?
Stop the Spread of Germs

District Encourages Prevention for Swine Flu