The Eastern Highlands Health District has been notified by the Department of Health that members of the school community had confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza.  These individuals have recovered from the virus without incident.  The School system has implemented the Center for Disease Control Guidelines which provides that students and adults who are ill with flu symptoms should not attend school for at least seven days or until 24 hours after the illness symptoms are over, whichever is longer.  Closure of school is no longer recommended by the CDC unless there is a large cluster of confirmed cases at the particular location.  Center for Disease Control Guidelines for school and child care facilities can be found at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/k12_dismissal.htm/.  The Eastern Highlands Health District will continue to monitor H1N1 occurrences in Tolland and work with the School system on implementation of appropriate guidelines. Any questions parents may have on this may be referred to the nurse at the school or the Eastern Highlands Health District at 860-429-3325.

For a list of towns with confirmed cases, please visit www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch.  DPH continues to ask residents to take precautions to prevent getting the flu or spreading it by staying home from work or school if they are sick, washing their hands frequently, and coughing or sneezing into their sleeve or a tissue.