May 5, 2009
Edition 1

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Sun Prairie Schools and the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) 

Our students and their families have many questions about the H1N1 virus (swine flu) public health emergency. The primary source of medical information is Public Health Madison & Dane County. If you would like medical information online, please visit www.publichealthmdc.com/disease/swineFlu/index.cfm. The intake phone number for Public Health Madison & Dane County is 266-4821.

Here are some of the questions we have heard from our students and their families, along with our answers.

Will children be marked excused if parents call in now to report that their child will stay home due to worries about swine flu?
Yes, these would be excused absences. We want to state, though, that all of our schools are open. We are eager to see your child in class and not missing out on lessons.

Does my child need to wear a face mask at school?
Sun Prairie Area School District does NOT recommend face masks for our general population, and neither does Public Health Madison & Dane County. However, some parents may decide to have their child wear a mask while at school because the child may be immuno-compromised and we certainly respect that.

Are our schools being kept clean enough to stop the spread of swine flu?
Our school facilities are cleaned daily. Our routines include daily cleaning and disinfecting of restrooms and locker rooms. In addition, we are disinfecting commonly touched services, including door handles, telephones, and railings. Public Health Madison & Dane County has not recommended anything other than standard cleaning and sanitation routines.

In class, my child sits next to a student who went to Mexico over spring break. Should I be worried about this?
A child’s recent travel with his family, and for that matter, a child’s ethnicity, should not lead anyone to isolate that child or be fearful of contact. Our staff will intervene if a child or a staff member is experiencing flu symptoms, and would advise that steps are taken to consult a health care professional and, if appropriate, for the sick child or staff member to stay home.

Can you get swine flu from eating pork? We sometimes see pork on the school lunch menu.
No. Swine flu is not transmitted by food. Eating pork will not give you swine flu.  Sun Prairie Area School District assures you that our School Nutrition staff will continue to follow health guidelines for preparation and handling of all foods, including pork. We do not intend to change any of our menu items in the near future.

Will school-related events and activities still be held?
At this time, yes. We have not cancelled any school-related events or activities, such as athletic events or prom. In the event of a cancellation, we would notify you through the media and the school district website. Local health officials have stated that there should be no fear about large gatherings at this time. Watch the news, or go to Public Health Madison & Dane County website (http://www.publichealthmdc.com/disease/swineflu/) for the latest guidance on this.

We thank you for your patience!
We know there is a lot of apprehension and inconvenience associated with this virus. We thank everyone for their patience and eagerness to help during this public health emergency.