“But that’s a government decision, not mine,” Gaglani said.
Gaglani is the local principal investigator in the Vaccines for Influenza Prevention in Schools (VIPS) campaign that has vaccinated area school children against the virus since 1998.
The present H1N1 flu activity would probably be considered low-grade activity, but once school gets back in session there is the possibility the virus will take off, she said.
A spokeswoman for the Texas Department of States Health Services said it’s “too early to make any kind of guess as to what will happen.”
“We are doing a lot of planning right now as to the fall flu season,” said Emily Palmer of the State Health Services. “We have a lot of people looking into different scenarios.”
The state would not make a decision as to what school districts could do, and could only make a recommendation, but it’s really too early to make any decisions or recommendations, Palmer said.
“Right now, we’re seeing very light to moderate cases - certainly not anything close to what we’d see during the regular flu season,” she said.
The regular flu season doesn’t bring a recommendation such as delaying the start of school, Palmer said.
However, a vaccine is produced each year that targets the three strains of flu predicted to most likely cause problems during that year’s flu season. No such vaccine is available for the H1N1 virus.
It takes at least four months for a vaccine to be manufactured and get licensed, Gaglani said. Then it must be distributed.
The United States saw its first H1N1 case at the end of March.
The normal flu vaccine distribution for fall 2009 is on schedule, Gaglani said.
“There has been no reported delays or shortages,” she said. “I’m hearing it may be available as early as August. That one we can distribute fast enough.”
There are precautions people should take if they exhibit flu-like symptoms.
“In general, people who are healthy and have flu-like illness - fever, cough, sore throat, congestion - need to isolate themselves at home and assume it might be swine flu,” she said. “If they’re getting worse then they should contact their doctor.”
Gaglani said those who think they might have the flu should follow common-sense precautions to keep from spreading the virus.
n Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue that is properly disposed.
n Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Seven days of isolation is recommended or until symptoms are resolved, she said.
People at high risk of infection - children under the age of 5, the elderly, pregnant women, nursing home or chronic care facility residents, or those who have chronic health conditions - who have flu-like symptoms should see their doctor, she said.
Those who are high risk and are showing signs of the flu should seek medical help as soon as possible, because antiviral medication should be administered with 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Those who end up in the hospital will be prescribed antiviral medication regardless.
People who are breathing hard or vomiting and unable to keep fluids down should seek medical help, Gaglani said.
Children whose color is pale or ashen, who are irritable and cannot be consoled or are lethargic should see a doctor.
“It’s not a good sign if a fever comes back after someone has begun to feel better,” she said. “It could be a bacterial infection.”
Bell County has had 98 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu.
Counties that border Bell and also have confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu are: Coryell, 2; McLennan, 2; Milam, 1; Williamson, 25; according to Texas Department of State Health Services.
Dr. Robin Battershell, Temple school district superintendent, could not be reached for comment Friday.
