Influenza, the flu, is caused by the influenza virus that infects the respiratory tract, which includes the nose, throat and lungs. Unlike the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. The flu is a respiratory illness with symptoms that include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Children can have additional gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Avian influenza refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily affect birds. Rarely, these bird viruses can infect other species, including pigs and humans. The avian H5N1 virus strain has the potential to become a pandemic because it may ultimately adapt into a strain that can spread from human to human. Currently this virus can only be spread from an infected bird through direct contact with a human. Once this change occurs it will no longer be a bird virus, it will be a human flu virus.

An influenza pandemic happens when a new subtype of virus emerges that has not previously circulated in humans. An influenza pandemic is a rare but recurrent event that has occurred three times in the recent past: The Spanish Flu in 1918 (began in the state of Kansas in military personnel prior to being shipped off to Europe); The Asian Flu in 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu in 1968. Each of these events were responsible for the deaths of millions of people world wide; in 1918, 40-50 million; in 1957, 2 million and in 1968, 1 million deaths due to the flu. It is currently estimated that a pandemic would affect an area in 3 to 6 week periods in two or three waves of infection and could potential impact 40% of a population either through illness or for caring for a family member who is ill.

The World Health Organization (WHO) works closely with the various public health organizations throughout the world to support countries surveillance of the influenza strains. The Who has developed a six phase plan to facilitate pandemic preparedness planning. Currently the WHO is at phase 3 of the planning process; meaning that a virus new to humans is causing infections, but does not spread easily from one person to another. Also the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has developed planning aids to have local governments, schools and individuals plan for this potential event.

The Parkway School District has brought together a Pandemic Planning Committee to develop a plan of action should a pandemic influenza virus occur in this area. Parkway is also working with the St. Louis County Health Department providing statistical data as to how many absents occur throughout the school year to help track potential contagious illnesses. Members of this committee are also involved with local and state pandemic planning groups such as the St. Louis Area Pandemic Planning (SLAPP) group and the Missouri Dept of Health and Senior Services continuity of business work group. This committee consists of members of various Parkway departments that will be impacted by a potential pandemic, such as our Health Services Dept, Environmental Services, Human Resources, Curriculum and Development, Special Services, Technology, and Operations. The committee is currently gathering information and drafting a planning document to be reviewed by the district administration prior to being approved by the Board of Education and implementation throughtout the district.

While the local communities and school districts are planning for pandemic preparedness you need to prepare your family in the event of a pandemic. The CDC has a checklist for individuals and families to help them in there pandemic planning. See the list of websites below for more information on preparing your family for a pandemic.

To learn more about the pandemic planning and the avian flu please visit the following websites:

The following information and graphics are taken from the CDC’s It’s a SNAP Program, a cross-curricular, school-wide education program for preventing absenteeism through clean hands.

Infectious disease accounts for millions of lost school days each year. Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold. Approximately 52 million cases of the common cold affect Americans under the age of 17 each year.

Keeping hands clean is an important step in avoiding getting sick and spreading germs to others. It is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds. However, if soap and clean water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used to clean your hands.

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Sneeze or cough into a tissue then throw it away. If you do not have a tissue, cover your cough or sneeze then clean your hands each and every time you do. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to help stop the spread of germs.

Germs are spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can live for a long time on surfaces such as doorknobs, desks, and tables. Some can live for more than 2 hours.

click here for a Cover Your Cough Graphic