As you know, the H1N1 virus is a form of the flu that has been active since last winter. During the summer break, District officials worked with local and national public health experts to prepare for a widespread outbreak of the flu. Some schools and businesses in the metro area are beginning to report isolated cases of H1N1.

The Francis Howell School District works closely with the St. Charles County Health Department on any cases of infectious diseases or viruses. FHSD and the health department are carefully monitoring the H1N1 flu situation and will keep parents and the public updated.

As a District, we are following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations and asking staff and students with flu-like symptoms to stay home and not return to school until at least 24 hours after they are fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication. Families should notify the school nurse, if your child has been diagnosed with the flu or other contagious disease.

Our communications on the flu, as recommended by public health officials, will focus primarily on good hygiene and other preventive measures. We will not be able to send communications about the number of H1N1 flu cases in the District, because the CDC is no longer testing for H1N1 unless a person has been hospitalized. 

If your child misses school because of the flu or any illness, be sure to contact the teacher or principal to make arrangements to continue their education at home. With the support of local health officials, we want to keep schools open during this flu season. However, we need your help to do this.  Follow the provided links for good hygiene recommendations to help prevent the spread of flu and other communicable diseases.