New CDC Recommendations for Avoiding Swine Flu
Government Guidelines for Decreasing the Spread of H1N1 Influenza
Sep 22, 2009
The CDC has revised its guidelines for state and local public health officials and K-12 schools on how to respond to those with flu-like illnesses. Here are the details of the new recommendations.
Change in Guidelines
According to the CDC, people with influenza-like symptoms should remain at home 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever reducing medicines. This is a modification from the previous recommendation that those who are ill stay at home for 7 days after the onset of the illness or 24 hours after the resolution of their symptoms.
Longer periods of exclusion are recommended for high-risk groups, including child care facilities for children younger than 5 years of age; pregnant women; senior citizens aged 65 or older; children under the age of 18 who receive long-term aspirin therapy; residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities; people with asthma, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurological, neuromuscular, chronic pulmonary or metabolic disorders such as diabetes; and adults and children who have immunosuppression.
The new guidelines do not apply for health care facilities. The exclusion period for health care settings remains at 7 days from the onset of symptoms or until the resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer.
Recommended Course of Action
The CDC recommends following these measures in order to decrease exposure to both seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) flu.
- Stay at home - Individuals with flu illnesses should stay at home at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, even if they are using antiviral medication. Recent epidemiologic data suggests that most people with the H1N1 virus had a fever lasting between 2-4 days, which would require a 3-5 day period of exclusion.
- Keep ill students and staff separated - Those with flu-like illnesses should be separated from others until they can be sent home. The CDC recommends having those infected by the flu, and those who are treating them, wear a surgical mask.
- Hygiene & respiratory etiquette - The basic tasks of washing hands frequently with soap and water, and covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing helps lessen the chance of spreading influenza viruses.
- Clean high traffic areas - Areas that are central to a majority should be disinfected routinely using cleaners typically used.
- Early Treatment for those at high-risk - People at high-risk for influenza complications should receive prompt medical treatment in order to prevent hospitalization or death.
- School dismissal for high-risk students - Schools with medically fragile children or pregnant students may considering dismissing them to better protect these high-risk students.
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