A letter from Chattooga County Schools Superintendent Dr.  Dwight Pullen was sent home Tuesday with all Chattooga County School students regarding the H1N1 influenza virus commonly known as the swine flu. The letter informed parents that a case has been confirmed at Chattooga High School. The letter assured parents that the school system is taking precautions to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Precautionary measures were listed in the letter as follows:

Teaching children To wash their hands

Teaching children no to share personal items like food, drinks, unwashed utensils and to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Also, each time they cough or sneeze it is recommended they use their elbow or arm instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of the flu: fever greater than 100 degrees farenheit, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headace and feeling very tired. Some people may vomit or have diarrhea.

Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever reducing drugs. Keeping children with fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.

Do not send children to school if they are sick. Children who are determinde to have flu-like symptoms at school will be sent home.

The school system is working dilligently to prevent the spread of this virus and AM 1180 will keep the public informed of any more developments in this story.