To date, 17,800 confirmed cases have been reported in the States. From these, 1,600 people have been hospitalized, and 44 deaths have resulted. The CDC estimates that about 7% of people in areas with an outbreak currently have flu symptoms.
What's being speculated: Children will most likely be the hardest affected. This poses an increased risk to schools and daycares.
The good news? Thankfully, although deaths have been reported, most people are able to recover quickly, and symptoms are on the mild side—no worse than the typical flu that kills 36,000 people each winter in the States.
Even better news: Vaccines are in the works, and targeted to be ready this fall.
What's important for you as part of your school's Admission Office: Ask that children returning in the fall have the vaccine once it's available. Because of the highly contagious nature of this virus, it puts your school at risk of temporality closing. We saw closings this past spring on many school campuses, as well as universities.
There isn't a proven formula to protect yourself, your family, or your school from this virus, but vaccinations are the first step. Encourage parents, teachers, and faculty members to also get vaccinated this fall when available, and offer materials in your welcome back package describing the symptoms and warning signs.
A recent article by the Associated Press suggests that some schools will be asked to become "clinics" in the fall, opening their doors to vaccinate students and community members most threatened. There were 140 schools last year that teamed up with local health officials to offer vaccines to families and/or children with parental consent. This year more schools could be asked to open their doors to help with this service.
