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  Dr. Nancy Kotowski, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools urges schools child care agencies and providers, and parents to increase their efforts to teach flu prevention strategies.  She is working with local school districts and to review and update their school safety plans in light of the current swine flu outbreak.

"My office is working closely with the Monterey County Health Department to monitor suspected and identified cases of swine flu throughout California.  The health and safety of our students is our prime concern, and we continue to prepare for any potential impact influenza may have on the education of out students," Dr. Kotowski said.

"This is a rapidly changing situation that deserves our heightened attention. Precaution and prevention are our best courses of action to stop the spread of the swine flu or any other illness at school.

"Students should wash hands often with soap, cover their coughs and sneezes, and avoid contact with students who appear ill. Also, if parents suspect their child is ill, they should keep the child at home and take the appropriate medical care."

The following are resources available to schools, both public and private, and the community regarding influenza and infections disease.

Download a free "Keep Our Schools Healthy" tool kit in multiple languages to help prevent the spread of germs and viruses, such as the recently reported outbreak of swine influenza. The tool kit can be downloaded by visiting  http://www.cde.ca.gov/148645

For information on developing school safety plans; and checklists for child care agencies, preschools, and local educational agencies; please visit  http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/fluinfo.asp

The Monterey County Health Department http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/Health

The United States Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/

The swine flu page of the United States Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

The World Health Organization http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

Información en Español http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/swine_espanol.htm

Pandemic Flu.gov 
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/index.html

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