Mumps Health Advisories
Head Lice
Zika Virus
Zika Virus Response Planning: Interim Guidance for District and School Administrators
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed interim guidance for kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12) district and school administrators for public health actions pertaining to Zika virus infection. This guidance is intended to address concerns about the risk for Zika virus infection in K–12 schools in the United States, provide school districts with information for planning school-related activities, and recommend actions that can be taken, in consultation with local public health authorities and government officials, to reduce the potential risk for Zika virus transmission on school premises and among students. This guidance provides an overview of the potential roles and responsibilities of public health authorities and school officials, describes prevention measures that schools can take to reduce mosquito exposure, and provides information on responding to a case of travel-associated Zika virus infection or confirmed local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus. To view the
Zika Virus Response Planning: Interim Guidance for District and School Administrators , access this link: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/schools.html
Ebola Virus
Important Information Regarding Ebola Virus Disease
School Nurses and school health staff are encouraged to review infectious disease guidelines and checklists to ensure that you understand Ebola, how it is transmitted and what precautions are necessary to protect the public and health care providers. It is critical that all members of the health care team have appropriate knowledge, education and personal protective equipment to ensure safety and effectively provide care to patients.
Visit the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ebola page for the most current updates and guidance.
Available for your information are several documents regarding Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) developed by The Georgia Department of Public Health. The document below for Georgia nurses(including school nurses) reviews what signs and symptoms to watch for and what precautions need to be taken.
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Ebola letter to GBON Licensed Nurses
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Ebola Virus Disease and Travel Update
The Georgia Department of Public Health requested our assistance in sharing with all school districts the following guidance letter regarding the Ebola virus.
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DPH Guidance Letter for all school districts regarding the Ebola virus
If you have any questions, please contact the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) at 1-866-PUBHLTH (1-866-782-4584) or the DPH Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588.
Measles
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is confirming the state’s first reported case of measles since 2012. The infected infant arrived in Atlanta from outside of the U.S. and is being cared for at Egleston at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). DPH is working with CHOA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the patient and to prevent further spread of measles.
Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease. It is particularly dangerous for infants who cannot be immunized until they are at least six months old and young children who have only received one dose of measles vaccine.
Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes and respiratory droplets travel through the air. Measles virus can live in the air and on surfaces for two to three hours. Almost everyone who has not been vaccinated will get measles if they are exposed to the virus. Measles generally can be prevented through vaccination. The measles vaccine (MMR) is highly effective, in most cases about 97 percent effective.
Measles Vaccine Information
The best way to prevent measles is for all children to be fully vaccinated on time. There are two combination vaccines used to prevent measles: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
