You probably have heard about the Ebola epidemic
affecting some West African countries and you may have questions or concerns
about how the epidemic affects your child in school. Please know that we are
following all local, state and federally recommended precautions around Ebola
and we want to assure you that your student is not in danger of exposure to
this virus at New Haven Public Schools.
·
There is no known case of Ebola in New Haven or
even the State of Connecticut.
·
Ebola is much harder to spread than other
diseases such as the flu. To get Ebola you need to touch a sick person directly
or have contact with their body fluids. It does not spread through the air.
·
The time from exposure to Ebola to when someone
becomes sick is usually 8 to 10 days and no more than 21 days. Therefore any
child who came to New Haven at the beginning of the semester is not carrying
the Ebola virus and will not spread disease.
·
The BoE and the Health Department are working
together to identify and monitor any students who may have come from an
affected region within the last 21 days.
City officials are taking advice and guidance from the State and Federal
government.
·
The current CDC guideline has recommended that
people who come from an affected country, specifically Liberia, Sierra Leone,
or Guinea who: (i) have not had direct contact with a person who has
Ebola; and (ii) do not have symptoms do not have to stay at home. Instead CDC is recommending self-monitoring
for fever/symptoms.
·
The City Health Department will maintain regular
contacts with those who are self-monitoring.
For more information on Ebola you can visit the CDC
website at http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our
students is our top priority and we are committed to taking every step and
precaution to ensure that remains true. We look forward to a healthy and
productive school year.
Garth Harries
Superintendent of Schools
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