With the NT's third school term starting next week, families are being advised to keep a close eye on the health status of children, especially regarding influenza.
Director of the NT Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Vicki Krause, said it is important for staff and students who develop flu-like symptoms to stay at home and away from school activities until they are well and without fever.
Australia moved to the PROTECT phase of the human swine flu pandemic in mid June where the emphasis is on protecting those most at risk of poor outcomes from the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 disease.
In this PROTECT phase of the human swine flu pandemic (H1N1) 2009 disease, school closures and student exclusions from school because of overseas or interstate travel are no longer indicated.
The key messages for schools to help minimise the spread of the disease include:
- Students and staff who are sick with a flu-like illness should stay at home and away from school activities until they feel well and no longer have a fever. The symptoms of a flu-like illness most often include fever and cough or sore throat, accompanied by tiredness and muscle and joint aches and pains.
- Students or staff who develop flu-like illness at school will be asked to go home.
- Most people with a flu-like illness do not need to see a doctor.
- Students and staff should be made aware that those with known health issues who become unwell with flu-like illness should seek medical advice without delay. They should check with their doctor if unsure about their health risk factors.
- Students or staff, whose illness worsens or deteriorates rapidly and have shortness of breath, need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
- As a general rule, try to stay at least one metre away from others.
Simple hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing, covering your mouth when your cough or sneeze and disposing of used tissues in the bin are still the best ways to avoid passing influenza on to others.