Information for Schools and Long Term Care Facilities
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Hawaii Department of Health requires all institutions experiencing
a suspected
influenza outbreak to report this information immediately.
Information regarding how to define a “suspected influenza outbreak” is provided below.
What are the symptoms of flu?
Flu has an incubation period of 1-4 days, with an average of about 2 days.
Symptoms usually develop quickly and include:
• Fever (usually high)
• Headaches
• Sore throat
• Dry cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Extreme tiredness
Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are
much more common
among children than adults.
The flu can range in severity of illness from person to person.
If some people, the illness will be mild, while in other special populations, the
illness can range in severity, and sometimes lead to serious complications.
For more general information regarding the flu, please visit HDOH’s
General
Flu Informationwebpage.
SCHOOLS
When are we required to report flu like activity to Hawaii Department
of Health?
Schools are required to report flu like activity to the Hawaii Department of Health when absentee rate exceeds 10%
for entire school OR absentee
rate exceeds 20% of one grade or class.
An influenza-like illness* outbreak is
confirmed when at least one student has
a positive culture or rapid-antigen test
for influenza.
*Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as a cough and
fever (>100°
F) or chills.
How should I go about reporting flu-like-activity to the Hawaii
Department of Health?
In order to report influenza like activity to HDOH, please download and
fill out the following form to the best of your ability.
Once the form is filled out, please fax it to the Department of Health’s
Disease Investigation Branch at (808)
586-4595.
I am not sure if the influenza-like-activity in my school needs to be
reported.
Please contact the Department of Health’s Disease Investigation Branch if
you have any questions.
Find contact information for your island here. ILI activity in schools is
immediately reportable, so please do not hesitate to call. DOH personnel will assist you in determining how to proceed with your particular situation.
During an outbreak, how will the Hawaii Department of Health assist me?
Good question! Reporting
information to HDOH is not a
one-way street. By the time you call us,
many children in your school may
be out sick. Your health room may be
flooded with children showing
flu-like-symptoms. HDOH is here to help you
get past this flu-like-illness
activity in your school.
When you contact HDOH, we will send you free kits to swab your students.
You may be able
to work closely with
your public health nurse
or
Disease Investigation
Branch personnel to
collect specimens for
testing at the Hawaii
State Laboratories
Division.
Once the specimens have been tested, we will know if your school has an
influenza outbreak.
In the event of
an influenza outbreak,
DOH
personnel will provide
you with materials you
may need to encourage
students to stay at home
and practice good
hygiene.
Instructions for Maintaining the Specimen Collection Kits and for
Swabbing
1. Tubes of VTM (viral transport medium) should be kept refrigerated at
all times.
2. VTM is relatively stable. Tubes provided can be used throughout the
influenza season
provided the
date of usage
does not exceed
the
expiration date
printed on the
outside of the
tube.
3. Collect throat swabs only on individuals who became ill within the last
72 hours AND
meet the
following
influenza-like
illness
criteria:
a. Fever >
100ºF, AND
b. Cough, sore
throat, or other
respiratory
symptoms.
4. Throat swab procedure:
a. Remove both
swabs from the
wrapper.
b. Moisten both
swabs with VTM
by dipping into
the tube.
c. Vigorously
swab the
posterior
pharynx and
tonsil area
(avoiding
tongue)
d. Return the
swabs to the
same tube of VTM.
e. Break off
sticks so that
screw cap can be
securely
replaced.
f. Refrigerate
tube
immediately.
g. Complete the
laboratory form
provided
Call the Disease Investigation Branch on Oahu at 586-4586; Hawaii
933-0912; Maui
984-8213; and
Kauai 241-3563
for pick-up of
swabs or to
request
additional tubes
of VTM.
LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES
When are we required to report flu like activity?
Long Term Care Facilities are required to report flu like activity to the Hawaii Department of Health when three (3) or more cases of ILI are detected on a single unit during a period of 48 to 72 hours. An ILI outbreak is confirmed when at least one resident has a positive culture or rapid-antigen test for influenza.
*Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as a cough and fever (>100° F) or chills.
How should I go about reporting flu-like-activity to the Hawaii Department of Health?
In order to report influenza like activity to HDOH, please download and fill out the following form to the best of your ability.
Once the form is filled out, please fax it to the Department of Health’s Disease Investigation Branch at (808) 586-4595.
I am not sure if the influenza-like-activity in my long term care facility needs to be reported.
Please contact the Department of Health’s Disease Investigation Branch if you have any questions. Find contact information for
your island here. ILI activity in nursing homes and long term care facilities is immediately reportable,
so please do not hesitate to call. DOH personnel will assist you in determining how to proceed with your particular situation.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR REPORTING TO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
| Oahu-Disease Investigation Branch: |
|
| (808) 586-4586 |
|
| Maui District Health Office: |
|
| (808) 984-8213 |
|
| Kauai District Health Office: |
|
| (808) 241-3563 |
|
| Hawaii District Health Office: |
|
| (808) 933-0912 |
|
| After Hours (State Hospital Operator): |
|
| (808) 566-5049 |
|
| After Hours (Physician's Exchange): |
|
| (808) 524-2575 |
Toll Free 1-800-360-2575 |
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