The flu is becoming more prevalent in the State of Illinois. McHenry School District 15 students and staff are also being affected and, therefore, the community as a whole. We have seen cases of influenza in our school population as well as in the community; the cases to date have been relatively mild. The symptoms that are associated with the flu include: a fever of 100 degrees or greater, cough and/or sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, feeling tired and, occasionally, nausea and vomiting. The difference between seasonal influenza and the H1N1 influenza is that it is a new virus strain and most people have not developed immunity to it; it appears to target pregnant women, the chronically ill, and young people at a higher than usual rate. District 15 is working closely with McHenry County Department of Health to monitor flu conditions. We will update our website with new information as it becomes available.

We are trying to keep our students and staff healthy, but we need your help!

• Keep your children home when they are sick. It is not easy to do with working parents; however, when a child comes to school sick, they make others they come in contact with sick. It is also important to keep them home from other activities if they are ill.
• Develop an emergency childcare plan before your child becomes ill. Speak with friends, neighbors, relatives, and find someone who is willing to take care of your children if they become ill. This plan should also include current phone numbers of people the school may contact if they become ill during the day and need to go home. Please update the emergency numbers that are at the schools.
• The flu is spread from person to person through coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the flu. The virus can be transmitted to others from one day before getting sick to five to seven days afterward. Adults should stay home from work if they are sick.
• Students may return to school if they are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication such as Advil or Tylenol.
• The Center for Disease Control and the McHenry County Department of Health are highly recommending both the seasonal influenza vaccine (now available) and the H1N1 influenza vaccine which should be available in November.
• Wash your hands often! The nurses at your child’s school have spoken with the students and staff about proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Please reinforce with your children the importance of this to help stay healthy. It is the easiest way to help prevent the transmission of any disease.
• Cover your cough or sneeze! Please teach your children how to cover their cough with a tissue or to cough into their elbow. If a tissue is used, immediately dispose of it and wash your hands. This keeps germs from spreading to others.

Remember to practice the “Three C’s” of disease prevention:

1. Clean - Wash your hands, especially before eating.
2. Cover - Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
3. Contain - Stay home if you are sick. Do not go to work or school if you have influenza-like symptoms!