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Camino School to Reopen; Health Officials Advise Continued
Precautions to Prevent Swine Flu (H1N1) Transmission
Camino School to Reopen on Monday, May 11
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El Dorado County health and school officials are announcing the reopening of Camino School, including the Winnie Wakeley building located on the Camino School campus.  The school will reopen on Monday, May 11 after being closed for a week due to swine flu (H1N1) cases among a cluster of Camino School students.  To date, there have been four confirmed cases and one probable case of swine flu identified among the Camino School students. Illness was mild in all of the cases.  At this time, there are no other known swine flu cases in El Dorado County. 

As the Camino School reopens, health officials are asking students, faculty and staff who have or may develop flu-like symptoms (such as fever of 100 degrees or higher with a cough or sore throat) to stay home and not attend school for at least seven days, or longer if fever persists.  Teachers are advised to send students home who are ill with influenza-like illness.  Everyone is advised to practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing with soap and water.  Health officials will continue to actively monitor the situation and provide advice to prevent and control any future spread of the virus.

"The illness characteristics of the disease we have seen in the County continues to be mild and consistent with seasonal flu,” said Dean Kelaita, MD, El Dorado County Interim Health Officer.  “Because this is a novel virus, we will continue to watch closely for new cases of infection or evidence of a change in the severity of illness.  Our first goal is to keep the community healthy.”

Health officials continue to advise members of the public to protect themselves from infection in the same manner as they would with the regular flu.  “Stay home if you feel you are sick with the flu and have symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat,” said Dr. Kelaita.  “If symptoms are severe or persist, then speak with a healthcare provider.”

Everyday Actions to Stay Healthy:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.  Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.  Infection control experts say that a barrier of about six feet is good to maintain, when possible, to prevent exposure to someone with an active case of the flu.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread this way.
• If you get sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home from work or school at least seven days, or longer if fever persists.  Limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the used tissue in the trash.

 “We also encourage businesses to support workers who are sick in staying home and in caring for a sick child,” added Dr. Kelaita.

El Dorado County Public Health continues to coordinate with state agencies and local healthcare providers on increased influenza surveillance and containment measures.  Information on swine flu is available online at www.edcgov.us/publichealth and on the El Dorado County Public Health Hotline (a recorded message) at (530) 621-6140.  The California Department of Public Health also has an active Swine Flu Hotline, with the option to speak with a live operator, at 1-888-865-0564.