ILI – influenza-like illness Similar to the symptoms of regular flu such as:

• Fever • Headache• Fatigue• Muscle or joint pains• Lack of appetite• Runny nose• Sore throat• Cough Vomiting Diarrhea

High-risk Children younger than 5 yrs old Adults 50 years of age and older Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular

(except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);

Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV;

Pregnant women; Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving

long-term aspirin therapy; Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care

facilities.

June 1-5 Enrollment and Orientation Stats showed that we had 80 who traveled abroad Problem: Some were not willing to declare their travel

and in spite of advise to stay home students still came to meet friends

Response: Move opening of classes to June15 instead of June 8 to implement 10 day quarantine

June 15-26 First 2 weeks of classes Several 2nd year students were experiencing ILI Problem: Suspected index case did not want to have

swab test, when forced Lung Center sent student home and rest, was told no need for test.

Response: School Physician had random thermal scanning and started sending students home if they had ILI symptoms.

New Problem: Students who were sick went to school, avoided physician so they will not be sent home.

2 days suspension because of typhoon, DOH advise not to panic since it might be the onset of seasonal flu.

June 30- July 7 Clustering observed Total of 94 students were absent from June30-July 7 Clustering of absences, some classes had 4-11 students

who were absent because of ILI Those who were advised to have throat swab came back

with medical certificate from their physician that they had regular ILI, have recovered and are fit to go back to school. No swab test, no confirmed case.

Response: Based on DOH guidelines this is Level 2 and we can suspend classes to decontaminate school and control viral infection. However, 10 days was not advised since we had no confirmed case.

Classes was suspended for 3 days giving us 5 days to cleanup and students to recover.

July 11-12, 2009 Rumors of Case 1 Teachers were informed through text messages that a

student was confirmed to have A(H1N1). I tried to contact the student and parents but no reply. A

teacher said she was able to confirm it with parents late in the afternoon of Sunday.

Dilemma: In the media, DOH has been saying no need for general suspension of classes, selective suspension can be applied. According to chart only a few students in section of case 1 are sick.

Response: Resume classes so we can assess students’ present medical condition. Ban all those who have ILI both in the classroom and in the dorm. This is selective suspension.

July 13, 2009 Classes Resume There were 23-25 students with ILI symptoms who still

went to school. They were immediately sent home. Parents of these students got angry and shouted at the school physician.

65 did not report to school 15 teachers were sick over the weekend and 9 were not

able to report for work. Case 1 brought documents but it only showed that he

had acute bronchitis. Same document shown to school physician on July 6, thus he was allowed to attend classes on July 6 and 7. Actual lab report faxed by parent later.

July 13, 2009 Classes Resume Sodium, section of case 1, confined to room 302. Case 1

was able to enter school building undetected since he had no fever, cough or colds. Upon discovery was sent to the clinic.

Main Campus wanted to suspend classes for another 10 days but DOH and OED initially did not want us to suspend classes but to isolate cases.

Case 1 resides in BRH Main which has 126 occupants. Case 2 was discovered late in the afternoon. She had her

results on July 7 but did not report it to anyone that week. She is from Charm and resides in GRH Main which has 60 occupants.

Against the advice of DOH and the OED the PSHS Main Campus suspended classes for 10 days for the ff. reasons:◦ There are students (and parents) who insist on

going to class even if they were told not to. ◦ Some students do not volunteer full information

re their medical condition◦ Dorms have limited isolation rooms.◦ Setup of classes makes it impossible to contain

students in one area.

Another student tested positive today. The student is from Muon BRH Main.

2 other students are being tested today. One from Cesium and another from Tau

During the suspension◦ Another cleanup, decontamination.◦ Students must be monitored daily. Teachers will

call everyday to ensure students are in their homes. (strategy used by DLSU, ADMU)

◦ Identify high-risk students and monitor them for ILI

◦ Any high-risk student who contracts ILI must call the school. We will contact DOH for medication and/or throat swabbing.

After the suspension◦ Those who are sick will be sent home

immediately.◦ If clustering is observed, DOH will conduct

random throat swabbing. If test is positive then tamiflu will be given.

See school physician, she will refer you to accredited hospital

School will inform DOH DOH will inform hospital and will shoulder

expenses

No available vaccine from DOH Do not take tamiflu for ILI unless prescribed

by doctor or the DOH, this can lead to resistance to the drug

Usual prescription is 2 tablets a day for 5 days.

Younger patients (below 15) can be once a day.

High risk patients should wear masks Those with contact with people with ILI

should wear masks. Food service people should wear masks Adults to wear masks to encourage

students to do the same. Everyone will wear masks for 1 week.

No periodic exam for 1st qtr. Grade in 2nd qtr will include requirements

from the 1st qtr. Individualized but integrated requirements

◦ Minimize group work so if 1 is absent group not affected; lessens reason to meet as grp

◦ Integrated – are there similar/related topics covered in other subjects

Keep yourself and your child healthy. Be informed and share the correct

information with other parents. Help in the daily monitoring of students Coordinate with school officials, batch and

section advisers.