After the first diagnosed and reported case of the H1N1 virus (also known as the swine flu) back in April of 2009, the Clinton County Health Department has been working with the Wilmington City School District and others in the county to help inform and protect students and staff members from the virus.

According to the World Health Organization, as of Sept 20, 2009 there have been 300,000 laboratory confirmed cases of the pandemic H1N1 virus worldwide.

According to the Clinton County Health Department there have been no confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in the country. In an interview with Curt Bone, Director of Business Operations of Wilmington City Schools he commented on the requirement for a case to be confirmed and reported to the health department.

"The only way that they report them in Clinton County is you actually have to be hospitalized. If you are tested positive and you are not hospitalized, it’s not reported to the health department," Bone said.

If tested positive for the H1N1 virus, the treatment will be the same as if being treated influenza type A. Since the treatment for the H1N1 virus is the same as the type A influenza, the Wilmington City School District is not doing anything special to sanitize buildings. Custodians are continuing the same cleaning routine they have been doing for years.

"H1N1 and type A are treated the same so there is nothing special to do for the swine flu that we haven’t already been doing for years," Bone said.

As for cafeteria procedures, they are the same; nothing is being changed due to the outbreak of the virus.

"They [the cooks] have strict sanitizing procedures anyway, as far as food temps and cleaning."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, two vaccines for the H1N1 virus have been produced and licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. The two vaccines are the flu shot and a nasal spray. On Oct 5, 2009 the first live attenuated 2009 H1N1 vaccine were administered and on Oct 12 administration of the H1N1 flu shot began. At the end of October there will be approximately 40 million doses of the vaccine available.

With the H1N1 vaccination beginning administered across the country, a question may arise when the vaccine comes to Clinton County. Will students and staff be required to get vaccinated? A school district cannot require a student or teacher to get vaccinated, nor will they be denied entrance to a school, Bone said.

"We can’t require students to get it, when the health department gets the option to be able to give it, we will work with them in order to roll it out to all the schools in the county and us," he said.

Though a vaccination is not required, it is suggested.

While the district is not stressing over the new sanitation policies, they are however stressing that faculty and students wash their hands frequently, cough into their sleeves rather than their hands, and not drink after others.

"Wash your hands, don’t drink after people, you can use a non alcoholic based hand sanitizers if you would like, cough into your sleeve rather than your hand," Bone suggested.

If a student or even a teacher has symptoms of the flu they should be sent home and see a doctor. If diagnosed with the flu do not return to school until fever free for 24 hours.