The following news story from CTV suggests that schools will need to ensure that their Pandemic Response Plans are in place for school opening this fall:
Shereen Dindar, CTV.ca News (Updated Sun. Jul. 12 2009 7:04 AM ET) http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090711/h1n1_spread_090712/20090712
About one third of the North American population may become infected with the H1N1 virus this fall, according to a Canadian microbiologist. The disease has already infected thousands across Canada and is linked to at least 41 deaths.
“What we think will happen in the fall in North America is a more complete wave, in which 30-40 per cent of people become infected over a 12-16 week period,” said Allison McGeer, microbiologist and infectious disease expert at Mount Sinai Hospital.
The virus has infected nearly 4,000 people in Ontario alone since it first spread from Mexico City last spring. The World Health Organization declared a global flu pandemic last month — the first such pandemic in four decades.
Last week, 200 scientists gathered in Toronto to discuss ways to curb the number of H1N1 infections.
This fall, experts are predicting the virus will change — not necessarily into a more deadly strain, but into a second wave of the pandemic that will affect significantly more people.
“The nature of flu viruses is that they change all the time, however, we are not expecting there to be a major change in the cause or severity of symptoms with H1N1,” said McGeer.
CIS has a Pandemic Resource section on the website (www.cisontario.ca > School Resources > Pandemic Resources). The page is password protected. Please contact George Briggs for more information.
George Briggs
Executive Director
Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario
PO Box 27, Whitby, ON, Canada L1N 5R7
905-665-8622
director@cisontario.cahttp://www.linkedin.com/in/glbriggs