School Year Looms, CDC Prepares for Swine Flu

With the school year only about a month away, the CDC is monitoring the fall's flu season warily. Why? It appears that the virus this fall differs from regular (seasonal) flu and is hitting more children and young adults than the elderly. CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner has said that the CDC would be coming out with comprehensive guidance for schools in August. The strategy will include “trying to identify cases before they come into the school; good hand hygiene and isolating sick kids,” he said. The CDC is also going to tell parents “don’t send kids to school when they’re sick.” However, the CDC warns, regular flu shots probably won't protect kids from this strain of flu. Efforts to develop a vaccine targeting H1N1 are underway, and it’s possible that two injections (several weeks apart) will be required.

How do you protect your children from getting this fall's flu virus? First and foremost, the CDC recommends basic hygiene, such as hand washing and covering your mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow when sneezing or coughing.

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