As you may know, H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a strain of influenza.  Like the other seasonal influenza strains, it is easily spread from person-to-person. During the flu season, we will continue 

working closely with Public Health Officials to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take to keep our students and staff well.  We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

In the meantime, we are asking that TMSA Family members do their part to prevent the spread of this virus.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends four main ways you and your family may keep from getting sick with the flu at school and at home:

1.       Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

2.       Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.

3.       Stay home if you or your child is sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.

4.       Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.

For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov, www.flu.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu.