Information for community groups and organisations, schools and childcare
Download Flu & You posters for your classrooms, centres and facilities
School closures and student exclusion
Medical evidence on the spread of influenza shows transmission in schools is a significant factor in the disease’s spread. Once influenza is in the school environment it can spread quickly, impacting families and the local community.
School policies continue to be important in the PROTECT phase, however, regional or widespread closure of schools is not considered a proportionate nor appropriate intervention for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 where disease is ‘mild in most’. Closure of educational facilities, boarding schools and child care centres is, in general, not recommended.
In the PROTECT phase:
- Children with flu-like symptoms should not attend school.
- If a child becomes sick with flu-like symptoms at school they should be sent home.
- School exclusion for children returning from particular countries overseas is no longer applicable.
States and territories have the flexibility to close single schools or classrooms following identification of a case (confirmed through testing), if this was considered a useful measure to prevent an outbreak in the school. This measure is most relevant in areas without recorded community transmission – person-to-person transmission outside household or Health Care settings, with no epidemiological link to a probable or confirmed case.
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If there is illness
Looking out for outbreaks
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is a mild disease in most cases but a severe disease in some people. Prompt action is needed if pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is suspected. This includes being able to recognise an outbreak as early as possible so that immediate steps are taken to prevent the spread of illness.
Sign of likely outbreak of influenza would be the occurrence of three new cases flu-like illness within a three day period in a
- child care centre
- single class within a school or
- single dormitory within a boarding school
Any suspected outbreaks of influenza should be reported promptly to your local Public Health Unit in your
state and territory.
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If students are ill
Children who are ill with flu-like symptoms should be cared for at home and not return to school or childcare till medication is on longer needed to suppress their fever. Once the fever subsides without medication students should wait 24 hours before returning to school or childcare.
Siblings of ill children can still attend the facility.
Boarding school students with flu-like illness should be cared for in single rooms and kept separated from other students till medication is on longer needed to suppress their fever. Once the fever subsides without medication students should wait 24 hours before returning to school.
Staff
Staff caring for students with flu-like symptoms should limit contact with other staff and students until the ill student’s symptoms have resolved.
Staff do not need to stay away from educational facilities, boarding schools and childcare centres unless they also develop flu-like symptoms.
Parents
Do not need to stay away from educational facilities, boarding schools and childcare centres unless they develop flu-like symptoms.
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Community Information
Attending public events
Gatherings of lots of people such as at football matches, church services and concerts will not be discouraged during the PROTECT phase. This is because the disease is mild in most people. However there are two important considerations for people attending gatherings of large numbers of people.
- People who are unwell with the disease should always isolate themselves from others and 'protect their neighbours and the community' by staying away from gatherings and trying to limit the spread of the illness.
- People who are at risk of severe complications from influenza need to reconsider their attendance at such events, as contact with large numbers of people can increase the risk that they come into contact with the infection.
Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
People with underlying chronic health conditions are at greater risk of severe health outcomes with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. Indigenous Australians are known to have higher rates of underlying chronic disease, some of which may be undiagnosed, and are identified as a potential group with greater risk of sever outcomes if they catch this flu.
The Australian Government has developed information to help reduce the spread of infection within communities, as well as guidance for primary health care workers providing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Community information
Community and Organisations
The Australian Government has developed a kit to help organisations prepare for a human influenza pandemic. This useful resource explains the impact a pandemic could have on your organisation, your community and on the provision of services; and how important it is to have a plan in place to help your organisation cope. It provides practical tools and information to help you develop your pandemic plan.
Building resilience through business continuity and pandemic planning (for non-government organisations)
