The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is closely monitoring classroom clusters of flu-like illness at Wakefield Elementary School as Rhode Island officially enters peak flu season. HEALTH’s laboratory has confirmed some illnesses were caused by the influenza Type A virus, which is among the preventable flu strains in this year’s seasonal flu vaccination.

The school has experienced a high rate of absenteeism since the New Year and HEALTH is working directly with school administrators to limit the spread of flu and to make sure students receive appropriate medical care.

“The situation at Wakefield Elementary School underscores the importance of flu vaccination,” said Director of Health Michael Fine, MD. “Flu activity peaks in Rhode Island in January and February. It is not too late to get a flu shot. In fact, this is the most important time to make sure you are vaccinated. Every Rhode Islander who has not yet been vaccinated against the flu should get vaccinated now.”

Flu is a serious illness, especially for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with a chronic health condition or a weakened immune system. Everyone older than 6 months of age should get a flu vaccination every year, even healthy people. Some children may need second doses of flu vaccine.

Symptoms of the flu include a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain, and fatigue. In addition to vaccination, good health habits can prevent the spread of germs that cause the flu.

• Wash your hands throughout the day with warm water and soap or an alcohol-based hand gel. • Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Flu is spread through coughing or sneezing on other people or into your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent others from getting sick. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way. • Stay home if you are sick. If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home from work, school, or child care until you have been fever-free (temperature less than 100.4ºF/38ºC) for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Flu vaccine is available at primary care providers’ offices and pharmacies throughout Rhode Island. For more information, call the HEALTH Information Line at 401-222-5960 / Relay 711 or visit www.health.ri.gov/flu

Earlier today (January 11) St. Andrew’s School in Barrington reported to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) that a vial of mercury had been dropped on a classroom floor in the Brown Science Building on January 10. The classroom was used for high school science classes.

The school notified local and state officials and evacuated all students from the building where the spill occurred. In addition, the shoes of all students and faculty who were in the classroom since the spill are in the process of being tested for mercury. Staff from DEM are conducting air sample testing to identify areas of potential contamination. Clean Harbors is currently working with school officials to safely clean the affected building. HEALTH staff is on site to ensure that all health and safety protocols are followed during the incident response.

HEALTH has received no reports of students or staff with any acute effects. For information on mercury, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/healthrisks/poisoning/mercury/

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) in conjunction with the Barrington Schools will be hosting a pertussis vaccination clinic for Barrington residents on Thursday, January 12 and Friday, January 13, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Barrington High School cafeteria, 220 Lincoln Avenue. Anyone with health insurance should bring his or her health insurance card to the clinic. Any Barrington resident who is uninsured will be vaccinated at no cost to the individual.

Due to the outbreak and based on a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HEALTH encourages anyone age 10 or older who has not previously received a Tdap vaccine and lives in Barrington get vaccinated. It is especially important for the following individuals to be vaccinated: · Anyone who has close contact with or cares for an infant younger than one year of age. · Any woman who is at least 20 weeks pregnant. (These women should contact their obstetricians to get vaccinated.) · Anyone with a weakened immune system (including chronic respiratory problem, neuromuscular disease, or immunodeficiency disorder). · Anyone who works at a school or childcare facility. · Anyone who provides direct patient care.

“Vaccination is the best prevention against pertussis,” said Director of Health Michael Fine, MD. “This clinic is part of HEALTH’s ongoing effort to prevent the further spread of pertussis in the Barrington community. Anyone who does not live in Barrington and needs to be vaccinated should contact his or her healthcare provider.”

Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease that is also known as whooping cough. It is highly contagious and caused by a bacterial infection of the lungs. People with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of pertussis should stay out of work, school, or childcare until they have been on antibiotics for at least five days. HEALTH receives reports of about 60 cases of pertussis each year.

On December 22, HEALTH received a report from a Barrington pediatrician that a student had been diagnosed with pertussis. After working with Barrington school officials and other healthcare providers, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) has confirmed a total of eight cases of pertussis in students who attend either Hampden Meadows Elementary School or Barrington Middle School.

HEALTH’s staff began working closely with school officials to identify any other symptomatic students, identify close contacts at home and at school who may need antibiotic prophylaxis, assess student immunization coverage rates, and consult with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on recommended next steps. At this time, CDC does not recommend mass antibiotic prophylaxis.

So that healthcare providers could assist HEALTH in its investigation, HEALTH sent provider advisories on December 29 and January 6 to all licensed providers in the state. The investigation is ongoing, and HEALTH expects to find additional cases. Symptoms of pertussis include cough lasting more than two weeks and worsens to include whooping, short periods without breathing, or gagging or vomiting after coughing spells.

“Anyone with symptoms of pertussis should be tested by his or her healthcare provider,” said Director of Health Michael Fine, MD. “The best protection against pertussis is to get vaccinated, so any child who is not up-to-date on his or her pertussis vaccination should be vaccinated. We want to make sure that any infant younger than age one, any pregnant woman, or anyone with a weakened immune system who may have been exposed to someone with pertussis also sees his or her healthcare provider for evaluation, testing, and treatment.”

Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease that is also known as whooping cough. It is highly contagious and caused by a bacterial infection of the lungs. People with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of pertussis should stay out of work, school, or child care until they have been on antibiotics for at least five days. HEALTH receives reports of about 60 cases of pertussis each year.

Earlier this flu season, Lifespan’s approach to encouraging staff to get flu vaccinations was declared a best practice by HEALTH. Lifespan hospitals required staff to choose one of four options: get a flu vaccination at work; provide documentation to employee health of a flu shot from another healthcare provider or public clinic; provide documentation from a healthcare provider that there is a medical reason for not getting a flu shot; or sign a declination form that specifies the reason for refusal. Lifespan’s new policy was distributed to other healthcare facilities to use as a model in their own workplace.

At Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, it is a requirement that all eligible new employees must receive a flu vaccination. In addition, the hospital has instituted a friendly competition to see which unit or department can achieve the highest percentage of staff who are vaccinated.

“It is essential that all healthcare workers get vaccinated,” said Director of Health Michael Fine, MD. “Getting a flu shot every year is the easiest and most effective way to protect yourself, your family, and your patients. There is still plenty of available flu vaccine, and it is not too late to get vaccinated. I commend these hospitals for making the extra effort to protect their staff and their patients.”