This week the principals at the Elementary and High School sent out notices to all parents of Blanco ISD students with information on how to avoid spreading the flu virus. The school also requires that you keep your child at home if he/she has a fever and until they are fever free for 24 hours.

   On Tuesday, September 29, Blanco ISD RN, Peggy Pepper, reported the following:

    •Blanco Elementary - 45 absent, 10 sent home with fever, 8 confirmed flu

    •Blanco Middle - 49 absent, 13 sent home with fever, 11 confirmed flu

    •Blanco High - 22 absent, 3 sent home, 5 confirmed flu

   Many of the kids are absent with flu-like illnesses, but have not been confirmed as flu. “If parents have taken their children to the doctor and flu has been confirmed, please let your child's school know. We have to report these numbers (not names) to the state.” said Peggy Pepper, RN.

   The Texas Department of Health has declared that the flu is now widespread. According to Texasflu.com, the flu strains that most people are contracting is the novel H1N1 (formerly known as Swine Flu). According to the site, most previously healthy people will not suffer greatly.

   Nurse Pepper urges parents to use caution:

   PARENTS:  If your child cannot go to school, please keep him/her home!  He/she should not be around other children.

    •don't have friends over

    •don't send him/her to other homes

    •don't let him/her go to practices

    •don't take him/her to church

    •don't take him/her to the store

    •don't allow him/her to play in sports events

    •don't allow him/her to go to extracurricular school functions [football games, volleyball games, etc.].

   Give your doctor a call if you are exposed to the flu by close contact.  Close contact is living in the same house, spending the night, or working in close quarters for an extended period of time. Your doctor may want you to take Tamiflu or another anti-viral medication to prevent the flu   

   For more info: www.flu.gov or www.texasflu.com.