2009.04.28
Dept. of Ed warns about swine flu
A few schools across the nation have decided to shut their doors in response to potential swine flu outbreaks, and the Department of Education says that's OK.
In a conference call with a group of educators, Ed secretary Arne Duncan and folks from the Office of Safe and Drug-Free schools said to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. That agency suggests a closure if an outbreak has occurred.
Montgomery County's assistant superintendent sat in on that conference call, but the school system isn't planning any closures.
Duncan encouraged schools to closely monitor students' health, which they plan to do.
Joni Underwood, health supervisor in Montgomery County's schools, said she doesn't expect much to be different in schools, but she said they'd be a little bit more cautious when it comes to flu symptoms.
School systems also have "pandemic" emergency response plans, which were required in the wake of avian flu scares.
