Though several sick students at Rucker Elementary School in Gilroy have tested negative for swine flu after the school was temporarily closed Thursday by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, it is important for people in the south county to stay informed about the the spreading disease.
There are currently no reported cases of swine flu in Morgan Hill. A notice on the Morgan Hill city website announces that the city is continuing to monitor the swine flu situation locally, while working in conjunction with the County of Santa Clara.
The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services advises families to take this opportunity to add additional items to their emergency kits.
These items include:
- Two weeks worth of food for you and your family.
- One gallon of water per person per day.
- Two weeks worth of prescription medications.
- Two weeks worth of ibuprofen or acetaminophen and cough medicine.
- Pedialyte for kids, Gatorade for adults and teens.
- Disinfectants and chlorine bleach.
- Face masks and plastic gloves (to help protect you, especially if you are taking care of sick family members).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stated that the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of other strains of flu, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. So far, three nations have confirmed cases of swine flu: Mexico, Canada, and the United States
Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.
People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they’ve washed their hands. When coughing or sneezing, proper etiquette is to cough or sneeze into the elbow.
Finally, it is recommended that all people who feel sick should avoid going to school or work.
For local information visit the Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s website at http://www.sccphd.org, and for additional swine flu information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website at http://www.cdc.gov.
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