While the heat of the summer could slow outbreaks of the H1N1 influenza virus, summer camps need to get prepared. Campers in the great outdoors might be less likely to give each other the flu than students in a confined classroom. However, healthy precautions such as handwashing need to continue through summer vacation.
The height of seasonal flu activity was in February. Anyone with flu-like symptoms now can either assume to be sick with H1N1 swine influenza or seek a confirmation. But the number of confirmed cases proves misleading on the extent of the outbreak. Medical laboratories lack the capacity to confirm each case of the flu. When the Center for Disease Control, Boston Public Health Commission and Boston public schools decided to close schools because of flu outbreaks, it was not because of the presence of a confirmed case. Public health officials were monitoring attendance over several days to determine the need for a school closure.
Summer camps, day care centers and programs need to reflect on recent school closures in Massachusetts. School principals and nurses reported to the Boston Public Health Commission to monitor flu outbreaks in schools. Students with flu-like symptoms were instructed to stay at home for seven consecutive days. Children under two and children with asthma are at heightened risk for having severe complications with the flu. Parents of these children were instructed to seek immediate medical assistance. As indicated in her testimony to Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner on June 18, 2009, Boston Public Health Commission director Barbara Ferrer expected adherence to this guidance to result in a higher rate of absenteeism during flu outbreaks
Whether or not they possess a central administration, summer camps and organizations need to report, too. They must adopt the same philosophy: communicate on everything between hopes for the best and preparations for the worst. Camp administrators may be asked to not enroll children exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Absenteeism and cancellations should be more likely during flu outbreaks. Therefore, transportation and refund arrangements should be made in advance. Instructors may need training in how to monitor flu-like symptoms and measure temperatures. Camp counselors and campers all need to make hand washing a routine. "We need to be vigilant about making sure that handwashing is happening. You know, that means there's got to be soap and water or alcohol based sanitizer, and you have to make time in day, particularly young children, to have an opportunity to wash off their hands," said Ferrer. "The reason this spreads is because people come in contact with sick children." Cleaning hands with soap and water, covering sneezes and coughs and limiting contact with others when sick is standard advice.
If camp nurses start reporting that each day they're seeing an increasing number of campers with a fever, cough and sore throat, then that camp can assume to have influenza-like activity--even in the absence of a confirmed case. This warrants the Boston Public Health Commission and Center for Disease Control to check in, but not necessarily close the camp. The Boston Public Health Commission can send an epidemiology team to the campgrounds. Participants and their guardians need to be aware that summer activities could be cancelled. This summer vacation everybody needs a backup plan.