Temporary Closure of All SCUCISD Campuses
Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 1:10 p.m.
The instructions we received from the Health Department have changed during the past 24 hours. At this time, we have been instructed to close all campuses in the District for the upcoming school week due to concerns of spreading the Swine Flu.
All activities associated with the schools have been canceled. The Health Department is strongly advising all public gatherings to be canceled during the upcoming week.
We can appreciate that making family arrangements to allow for the district closing will be challenging for most families. However, the concern for the overall health of the citizens of our community, state and nation is of the utmost importance.
To reach the Health Department, call 888-777-5320. This is a toll-free, non-emergency number.
For updated information related to closures in SCUCISD, you may also call (210) 619-4700 to access listen-only recorded updates.
Below is a copy of the news release issued by the Health Department the afternoon of April 26, 2009.
All Schools in Schertz District to Close
The Texas Department of State Health Services today announced that all 14 schools and district facilities in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District will be closed effective immediately after several more flu-like illnesses have been discovered in the department’s ongoing swine flu investigation.
All extra-curricular activities also are cancelled.
The move follows the closing of the district’s Byron Steele High School, announced on Saturday. Swine flu has been lab-confirmed in two students from that school who have recovered. Lab confirmation is pending on a third case who is recovering.
“We don’t have lab confirmation for any of the additional flu-like illnesses yet, but we’ve found enough illnesses associated with some of the other schools that we believe it’s prudent to close all of them before classes resume on Monday,” said Sandra Guerra, M.D., a DSHS regional director and the public health authority for Guadalupe County.
She urged students not to be around each other while the schools are closed, noting that would “defeat the purpose of the closings.”
DSHS is urging the schools’ staff, faculty, students and their household members to avoid contact with others, especially if they have symptoms of a respiratory illness.
Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Health officials say everyone should follow standard precautions to reduce the spread of any respiratory illness.
•Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
•Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
•Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
http://www.scuc.txed.net/Departments/PublicInfoWeb/features
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