VICTORIA – The Province is preparing for a possible resurgence of the H1N1 flu virus in B.C. schools this fall with a pandemic plan that includes new information and materials for parents, students and schools, Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid and Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Ida Chong announced today in conjunction with provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall.
“We don’t expect that individual school closures, community-wide closures or provincewide closures will be useful in controlling the spread and impact of the H1N1 flu virus,” said Kendall. “Closures early last spring were initiated out of an abundance of caution because we had very little information on the novel flu virus at that time. It has since become apparent that the disease caused by this virus is generally mild and does not warrant such severe measures.”
In addition, the Province and the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, in consultation with the federal government and public health partners, have developed new guidelines around school closures that complement the pandemic plans of school districts.
“Though the H1N1 flu virus has proven to be similar to seasonal flu, parents should continue to take every precaution to keep their children safe,” said Chong. “We have provided information for both parents and students on the Province’s H1N1 website and we are working with our public health and education colleagues to ensure that all British Columbians are well-protected this coming flu season.”
Under the school closure guidelines, the provincial health officer and the local medical health officer will make the final decision on whether it is necessary to close schools or other facilities such as daycares or community centres.
“The Ministry of Education has developed a pandemic response framework and it will be in place for the first day of school to support operational decision-making during any pandemic,” said MacDiarmid. “The framework will also provide guidance to public and independent schools and will be available to the First Nations education system.”
The framework will assist boards of education and independent school authorities in planning for such contingencies as:
- Transportation of sick students.
- Communications protocols during a pandemic.
- Roles and responsibilities of emergency response teams.
- Continuity of instruction in the event of classroom disruptions.
- Post-pandemic recovery plans.
“We are taking proactive steps to protect the health and safety of students and staff,” said Kamloops board of education superintendent Terry Sullivan. “Co-ordinated planning and communication between government, health authorities and districts will prepare us for a worst-case scenario. However, by teaching students to take the necessary precautions and practice good hygiene, we hope to minimize the spread of illness and safeguard the health of everyone in B.C. schools.”
British Columbia continues to monitor the H1N1 flu virus situation in the province. Cases have been confirmed throughout B.C. and the vast majority of these patients have either recovered or are recovering. For the school guidelines and for the latest B.C. back-to-school and general information about the H1N1 flu virus, visit www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1.
