OUR VIEW: Schools must keep entire community informed
Published: September 17, 2009
» When it comes to swine flu — even suspected cases — it’s not enough for the school division to only inform parents of students.
Schools nationwide have been bracing for infections of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, so it was only a matter of time before public schools in Culpeper County had their first case this fall.
Last week, parents received automated phone calls from the school division notifying them of a suspected case of swine flu. Another call this week said “several” suspected cases had been reported in the schools.
After the first call, the school division did not follow up with a press release to let the rest of the community know of the possible infection. Thankfully, CCPS issued a release to the general public the second time around.
We can’t fault the schools for wanting to avoid a panic, but top administrators should take into account the community-wide interest associated with this issue. Swine flu is contagious; it doesn’t just affect school children.
That said, we need to take the news of a possible infection with a measure of common sense. There’s a lot of hype surrounding swine flu, as there seems to be every few years when a particular flu strain gets a little virulent. Remember the bird flu?
We need to remember that swine flu is still the flu. It can be treated, and only a tiny fraction of people who contract it actually die.
Regular handwashing can help minimize the spread of the infection. Also, children with flu-like symptoms should be kept home from school for at least 24 hours until the fever has broken. Adults who have flu-like symptoms should consider staying home from work.
The school division’s CodeRED phone system is nice and worked like it was supposed to, but it can’t reach everybody. People without kids in the schools aren’t in the database to be called. It’s conceivable that even some parents aren’t on the schools’ phone system.
Getting word out to the non-school community may not matter so much when we’re talking about a snow day, but swine flu or other such pathogens will not limit themselves to the schools.
They affect everybody.
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Reader Reactions
The school’s job is to educate children in a safe environment, not be the town crier warning of two or three sick children. Take some responsibility for yourself and stop perpetuating the myth that everything is always someone else’s responsibility.
The whole h1n1 virus thing is overblown anyway. Many people unfortunately die from the “regular” flu annually also. What about all those cases? Why shouldn’t the schools and everyone else keep us informed about those too? Fear mongering at its best.
I hear what you are saying about the school system, but these comments imply that schools are the only places with sick people. Will Wal-Mart issue a press release when one of its employees gets H1N1? Will the Sheriff let all of us know when someone in the courtroom went home sick and he suspects they have the virus? What about Lowe’s, Martin’s or Penney’s? According to your comments, these places should be pointed out too. Why are they not making press releases? Have any of these places have an employee go home sick?
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