Reading, writing and ... ready for the flu?

Textbooks, pencils, calculators ... and hand sanitizers?

Administrators, teachers and students are gearing up for a new school year with one more thing on their minds: how to stay healthy, especially with warnings about the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, as it’s more commonly known.

"I think the focus within the school needs to be on good hygienic practice, with an emphasis on hand washing frequently during the day," said Rockville Centre School Superintendent Dr. William Johnson. "One of the recommendations is that everybody get vaccinated with the regular flu vaccine that is currently available, and we intend to facilitate that for all teachers and staff members who want to participate, probably by having a local physician come to school.

“We're also working with our custodial staff to increase the frequency with which we monitor all the locations where soap and water is provided to the kids,” Johnson added. “We also use EZ Foam, and we have dispensers located strategically in the buildings so that both students and staff can utilize that, for example, as they enter and exit lunchrooms.”

Johnson continued, "If someone has flu-like symptoms, we’re going to follow the county guidelines, and we'll be sending home a letter to all parents of children in the school district that outlines those guidelines and what can and should be done at home." The letter, he said, will also be posted on the school Web site.

What officials are doing

With health experts saying that up to half the population may contract H1N1 this year, officials are gearing up.

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, along with county, village, school and health officials, announced last week that the county had purchased refrigerators to store H1N1 vaccine, which is expected to be released by the Centers for Disease Control in October. The county expects to receive enough vaccine for residents who fall into high-risk categories: pregnant women, anyone up to age 24 as well as people between 25 and 64 with underlying health problems, household contacts and caregivers for infants, health care workers and emergency medical personnel.

“As the summer comes to a close and the school year kicks into gear, it is important that everyone takes the necessary steps to stay healthy,” said Suozzi. “Each year we tell our residents to take precautions as the flu season approaches, and this year, especially with the new White House panel’s report about H1N1, it is even more important. The greatest tool for combating the flu is common sense, such as washing your hands frequently and covering your mouth when you cough. Most importantly, everyone should get a flu shot.”

What doctors are saying

“There's a specific rapid flu test, and it only tells you if it's positive for the Type A or B strain of flu,” said Dr. Stephen Shear of Rockville Centre Pediatrics LLP. “As swine flu is a Type A flu, back in May and June that was the only Type A flu around, so one would have to assume that people who tested positive for Type A had the H1N1 flu.

“The difference with this flu,” Shear explained, “is that as a new flu, most younger people under 25 don't seem to have any prior experience with it, so it's very contagious and could affect a large percentage of that population. As far as the flu goes, luckily we've so far been seeing relatively mild symptoms. Right now this flu is susceptible to medications, but there's concern that as it combines with other strains of flu it could become resistant. We also don't know whether it will continue to be mild or become a more virulent strain.

“Right now, some parts of the country are starting to see H1N1 flu,” Shear added. “There will be several different types of flu strains circulating, and at some point one of those strains is very likely to be H1N1. As far as the vaccination goes, there is a regular flu vaccine (with the two most likely A strains and one B strain) already available in many doctors’ offices, however that does not cover the novel H1N1 flu. So there will be a separate vaccine to cover just that one strain. They're anticipating it to be available in the middle of October, and the government will decide how it will be distributed.”

A word from local hospitals

“Mercy Medical Center has developed plans for possible increases in patient volume resulting from H1N1 flu in coordination with the other hospitals in the Catholic Health Services of Long Island system,” said Dr. Daniel Murphy, Mercy’s director of emergency medicine. "Those plans include increases in physician and support staffing in the Emergency Department. Fortunately, Mercy to date has seen only mild to moderate levels of illness associated with H1N1, and not unusually serious cases.”

According to Dr. Judith Goldstein, chief of infectious diseases at South Nassau Communities Hospital, the facility is prepared for a possible outbreak of H1N1. Its staff, however, is not sure what to expect this flu season.

"The concern comes with uncertainty about whether we will have an outbreak and what it will be like," Goldstein said. "Will it be like the cases we had last year? Or will we have fewer cases? More cases?"

She said that an H1N1 outbreak would add to the normal seasonal influenza, and recommended that residents get their annual flu shot and an H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.

Dr. Steven J. Walerstein, senior vice president for medical affairs and the medical director at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, said he did not see much of a rush last spring when H1N1 made its first appearance in the New York area. “We were actually surprised we didn’t have the surge and influx of patients we thought we were going to have,” Walerstein said.

But the NUMC medical staff continues to prepare for what experts are projecting to be an increase in H1N1 cases this fall. A report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology said that up to half of the nation’s population could potentially contract the H1N1 virus this fall. “It is a concern now,” Walerstein said. “The problem is that, obviously, no one has a crystal ball.”

Like his colleagues, he recommends vaccinations for both the seasonal flu and H1N1— especially for those with other health problems. Although the H1N1 vaccination is not expected to be released until October, the expected peak of infections, Walerstein said that according to early reports, initial trials of the shots have been successful.

What to do

about the flu

Get a seasonal flu shot.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, which spreads germs.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, stay home from work, school and errands.

Alex Costello, Mary Malloy and Mike Caputo contributed to this story. Comments about it? RVCeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.