28th May 2009


Dear parents

As you are aware the human swine influenza has continued to spread internationally and is now gaining some momentum in Australia. We have been following the advice of NSW Health and refer also to advice from the Director-General of Education.

The incubation period of human swine influenza is thought to be up to seven days. People can be infectious with influenza for up to 24 hours before they will develop any symptoms. This means that people who are infected could unknowingly spread the virus.

To limit the potential exposure, NSW Health has advised the education department to take steps to exclude staff or students who may have been in countries that have had community or school transmission of the virus.

Currently the countries are Mexico, USA, Canada, Japan and Panama. This list will be continually revised. This 'exclusion' approach would mean that students or staff members returning, or arriving, from a country affected by human swine influenza would be instructed to remain at home for seven days (the maximum incubation period) following their travel before returning to school.

This will allow time for any illness related to that travel to develop, and for prompt assessment and treatment to commence.  If they remain well after seven days they can return to school.

To limit the risk within our school community we also advise any student or staff member who has contact with someone diagnosed or suspected of having swine flu that they contact NSW Health for assessment and support. We also request that they contact the College and that they remain at home for seven days before returning to school.

NSW Health also advises that anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

It is important that we all cooperate with these strategies. The primary objective of NSW Health is to delay and limit the spread of human swine influenza within the community. This is a very important strategy in the effective management of the current influenza threat.

A confirmed case of human swine influenza in a student or staff member who has attended school while infectious would result in that school being identified as a 'school of interest'.  NSW Health would investigate each case identified and decide what to do based on the level of exposure to individuals in the school. Appropriate mitigation actions may include placing close contacts into home isolation with antiviral treatment, increased social distancing at school, or partially or completely closing the school. Partial closure could mean closing just a class or year group.

NSW Health would not make any decision to close a school lightly, and would fully consider the social support issues an unexpected closure may create for some families.

We must also remember that good hygiene practices can minimise the spread of infections. Simple precautions that prevent catching and spreading influenza include
·    covering your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze;
·    washing your hands after contact with soiled tissues or any contact with nose or throat discharge; and
·    stay at home if sick.

If you would like more information about human swine influenza, please read the NSW Health website at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/swine_flu.asp. You can also contact your Doctor or the Public Health Unit for the Illawarra on 02 4221 6700.

Please contact the College if you have any concerns or questions regarding this information.