LETTER SENT TO RIPON SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENTS

April 30, 2009
Dear Parents and/or Guardians:
To date, there are three probable cases of swine influenza that have occurred in Wisconsin. However, state and local health officials anticipate more cases.

Swine influenza A virus is a new virus that has not been identified previously in people, and viral person-to-person transmission is occurring. Swine flu is thought to be spread via person to person contact through contaminated air droplets from coughing and sneezing from an infected person. The virus is not spread by food including pork or pork products. Eating properly cooked and handled pork products is safe.

The symptoms of human swine flu are similar to the regular seasonal influenza and include fever, headache, chills and fatigue, body aches, sore throat, coughing, nausea and occasional vomiting, and diarrhea.

Good hygiene practices to decrease the spread of swine flu include:
• Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
• Teach your children to cough and sneeze into the inside of their elbow. Be sure to set a good
example by doing this yourself.
• Teach your children to stay at least six feet away from people who are sick
• Children who are sick should stay home from school and daycare and stay away from other
people until they are better
• In communities where H1N1(swine flu) has occurred, stay away from shopping malls, movie
theaters, or other places where there are large groups of people.

If your child is ill with the symptoms listed above, keep your child home and contact your medical provider. If you have questions about the swine flu call the Fond du Lac County Health Department at (920)929-3085. The School District Health Office and building secretaries will be closely monitoring absent rates at our school. For additional information call the School District Health Office at (920)748-4633.

Under state law (Wisconsin Statute Chapter 252.02(3), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, through the State Health Officer or a Local Health Officer, may close schools, and forbid public gatherings in schools, churches, and other places to control outbreaks. Parents should anticipate and plan for the possibility of school closure.

Sincerely,
Rick Ketter - Business Manager
Mary Lyke - School Nurse