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CDC Recommendations for the Amount of Time Persons with Influenza-Like Illness Should be Away from Others

August 5, 2009

CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Epidemiologic data collected during spring 2009 found that most people with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus who were not hospitalized had a fever that lasted 2 to 4 days; this would require an exclusion period of 3 to 5 days in most cases. Those with more severe illness are likely to have a fever for longer periods of time. Although fever is a component of the case definition of influenza-like illness, the epidemiologic data collected during spring 2009 found that a minority of patients infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus with respiratory symptoms did not have a fever.

Sick individuals should stay at home until the end of the exclusion period, except when necessary to seek required medical care. Sick individuals should avoid contact with others. Keeping people with a fever at home may reduce the number of people who get infected, since elevated temperature is associated with increased shedding of influenza virus. CDC recommends this exclusion period regardless of whether or not antiviral medications are used. People on antiviral treatment may shed influenza viruses that are resistant to antiviral medications.

Please remind your children to:

1. Cough or sneeze in a sleeve or use a tissue and throw in trash after use.
2. Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing and sneezing.
3. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective, but hand washing is best.
4. Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth, as germs spread that way

Links:
Letter from Superintendent Hill regarding the H1N1 Flu virus
Cowlitz County Health Department
Center for Disease Control
Center For Disease Control Spanish Version
Government Pandemic Flu Web site
World Health Organization
Washington State Dept. of Health Flu Web site

Download Swine Flu Fact Sheets:
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