Dear Parents and Guardians,

With the recent outbreak of swine influenza cases in both Mexico and the U.S. it is important for everyone to be aware of the symptoms of flu and methods to prevent the spread of the flu virus.

First and foremost, the best way to stop the spread of disease is prevention. Try to stay in good general health, get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious food and drink plenty of fluids. Pay special attention to the following five points:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissue once it has been used.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective when hand-washing is not an option.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with flu, stay home from work or school, and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Take extra precautions with commonly-touched surfaces at home, including door handles, telephones, and faucets when cleaning.

Symptoms of Swine influenza are similar to regular human flu and include, fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.

For more information, go to www.cde.ga.gove/148645 or www.busd.org

Sincerely,

Debbie Ginnetti