WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT



[pic]

Brinckerhoff Elementary School

16 Wedgewood Road

Fishkill, New York 12524

(845) 897-6800

Fax (845) 897-6802

Ursula Platz, principal

October 26, 2012

Dear Parents and Staff:

I want to share information with you concerning a small cluster of pneumonia cases that have been identified at our school. Since October 9, 2012 four (4) cases of pneumonia have been diagnosed among a few classes. The Dutchess County Department of Health advises us that pneumonia in school aged children is most often caused by Mycoplasma Pneumoniae (walking pneumonia)

While M Pneumoniae infections are uncommon in children younger than 5 years, they are a leading cause of pneumonia in school-aged children and young adults. Community-wide epidemics of this illness occur every 4 to 7 years.

We would like to take the opportunity to remind parents of the following Dutchess County Department of Health recommendationsions to prevent communicable diseases:

• Keep children with fever at home while the fever is present and for 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of anti fever medication such as Tylenol or ibuprofen

• Remind your children to properly wash their hands ( 20 seconds of scrubbing hands with soap and warm running water) after using the bathroom, before eating and before common activities such as gym and computer class

• Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or the bend of the elbow not your hands

• Keep your children’s immunizations up to date particularly for influenza and Pertussis

You may also call the Dutchess County Department of Health Communicable Disease Control Division at 845 486-3402 if you would like additional information.

If your child does develop any of the described symptoms, such as fever and cough, we advise that you promptly consult with your child’s pediatrician. It may be helpful to bring a copy of this letter with you to your health care provider visit. Please inform the school nurse of your child’s diagnosis.

-----------------------

[pic]

Member

[pic]

Middle States Association

of Colleges and Schools

Member

Member

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download