U.S. government officials are discouraging the closure of schools thisupcoming school year because of swine influenza A-H1N1, but say suchdecisions will be left to local officials.
The Department ofHealth and Human Services, along with other U.S. government agencies,released new swine flu guidelines Friday for school systems.
Speakingin Washington, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said even though thegovernment is hopeful there will be no need to close schools,realistically some will have to temporarily shut down this school yearbecause of swine flu.
But the director of the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, Dr. Thomas Frieden, said becauseofficials know more about the swine flu virus now, closing schools willnot be the best option in most cases.
He said instead schools should encourage staff and students to stay home if sick, and continue to emphasize hand washing.
Dr.Frieden said only if the virus starts to spread rapidly shouldofficials turn to other ways to slow its spread, like keeping childrenseparated.
Health officials have said children will be apriority when the first doses of a swine flu vaccine become available,but U.S. officials do not expect any vaccinations until mid-October.
TheWorld Health Organization has declared the swine flu outbreak apandemic and said up to two billion people may eventually be infected.
The WHO said more than 160,000 cases of swine flu infections have been confirmed around the world, with more than 1,000 deaths.