• Latest Letter from GA Dept. of Public Health Regarding Ebola (11/5/14)  Latest Update!
     
    What is the Henry County School System doing in response to the Ebola concerns and other infectious diseases?
    With regards to Ebola, the Central Office is following the guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health (see below) and has directed principals, clinic staff, and front office staff that if someone presents to the school with any of the following symptoms, with or without a fever, AND they have a history connected to one of the countries affected with Ebola [Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia] through direct travel or contact with someone who is from those areas or is known or suspected to be suffering from Ebola, that they (school officials) should immediately separate the individual from contact with others and report it to the GA Dept. of Public Health at 866-PUB-HLTH (866-782-4584).
     
    *Ebola Symptoms: (only should be considered for persons with a history connected to one of the countries affected with Ebola [Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia] through direct travel or contact with someone who is from those areas or is known or suspected to be suffering from Ebola)
    -Fever
    -Severe headache
    -Muscle pain
    -Weakness
    -Diarrhea
    -Vomiting
    -Abdominal pain
    -Unexplained, unusual bleeding/bruising
    -Loss of appetite
     
     
    What is the Henry County School System policy regarding illness?
    The school system has an illness policy which includes contacting parents to come to the school to pick up their children immediately if they are exhibiting vomiting, diarrhea, or fever.  This policy was adopted to help reduce the transmission of all illnesses (including influenza, Enterovirus, and Ebola). 
     
    Information Regarding Enterovirus D68 and Ebola:
    As you are most likely aware, the media is reporting a great deal on Ebola and Enterovirus. As with other cases of reported contagious illness within the community, Henry County Schools follows the guidance and recommendations of the local Health Department, District 4 Health Department (that supervises the local health department), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the local Emergency Management Agency (EMA).  We work collaboratively with and follow the recommendations of both the Health Department and EMA authorities.

     

    Representatives of Henry County Schools attended a meeting with these authorities at the local EMA location, on Wednesday 10/7/2014, to staff the county plan for response to both the Enterovirus and Ebola virus.  As of today, the authorities have not made any further recommendations, other than for the school system to follow the appropriate Bodily Fluids and Infectious control guidelines.
     

    Please  continue to encourage parents to keep sick children at home (as stated in the Student and Parent Handbook) and monitor reports of illness within the student population.  We recommend that you contact parents of sick children as quickly as possible and specifically monitor your student population with respiratory weaknesses.

     

    We, here at the Central Office, will also maintain contact with EMA authorities, local public health, and district public health authorities, and will respond promptly to any directions and protocols they may provide.  These are short helpful guides that the CDC and health department have provided for our usage.  I’m attaching copies here for your information.

     

    Please let us know what we can do to help with any concerns or questions.