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Health and Safety

Protection from Avian Bird Flu

Experts advise us that it is unlikely that a virulent strain of Avian Bird Flu currently in the news will transfer from birds to humans. Nevertheless, we wish to share some guidance, as it is natural to be concerned about the unknown.

• Good hygiene is key. Regularly wash hands with soap and warm water.

• Eat healthy foods and drink ample fluids.

• Wash eggs with soap and water before putting them in the fridge.

• Avoid contact with live chickens, ducks, etc. Stay away from poultry farms and slaughter areas.

• Keep all surfaces in the kitchen clean.

• Use different cutting boards for meat and vegetables/fruit.

• After chicken has been cut, wash the cutting board before reusing.

• Download Avian Flu Precautions for Food Handlers (PDF format)

If you develop any flu symptoms (fever, aches), contact your health practitioner or medical facility for guidance.

Consult with your health practitioner regarding whether it is advisable for you and/or family members to have a flu shot. Flu shots are available in Cairo. Please note that at this point there is no Avian Flu shot.

Children with flu like symptoms (sore joints, headaches, etc.) should stay home from school.

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If you are on campus, please feel free check our announcement boards for hygiene tips (“Be a Germ Stopper” and “Healthy habits keep your family well”) and take a copy of “Influenza (Flu), Questions and Answers: Information for Schools”, available in the divisional offices, the Health Office, on the Admin floor, and at the front gate.

For further information, we suggest that you access websites such as:

CDC about Avian Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian

Regular flu recommendations for schools: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school

World Health Organization about Avian Flu: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/
avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/index.html

CAC Pandemic Flu Rubric
(Based on current information/advice from CDC, U.S. Embassy, WHO)
November 15, 2005

WARDEN MESSAGE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA - FEBRUARY 17, 2006

On February 17, 2006, the Government of Egypt confirmed that H5N1 Avian Influenza was found in poultry from the Cairo, Giza, and Minya Governorates.  

The Embassy is not aware of any evidence of any human cases of the H5N1Avian Influenza in Egypt.  

[People] are urged to reduce their exposure to the H5N1 virus by taking the following precautions:
    *     Avoid contact with birds, especially live poultry and wild birds, or dead or ill birds.
    *    Avoid commercial poultry farms and live poultry markets.
    *    Teach children to avoid contact with birds.
    *    Practice good hygiene (especially washing hands, cleaning preparation areas, and cooking the meat well) when preparing poultry or other birds.
    *    Be alert to flu-like symptoms (especially elevated temperature) if you come into contact with poultry or wild birds.
    *    Keep pets birds inside, and do not transport any birds.
More information on avian influenza can be found in the State Department's Avian Influenza Fact Sheet at <http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html>.  You can also go to www.pandemicflu.gov <http://www.pandemicflu.gov> for information on what the USG is doing to prepare for a pandemic.
Specific U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) travel information relating to avian influenza, including preventive measures is available at <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm>. World Health Organization (WHO) guidance related to avian influenza is available at <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/>.

WARDEN MESSAGE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA - JANUARY 19, 2006

The Embassy is working closely with the Government of Egypt to monitor the situation, and an interagency working group within the Embassy meets regularly to review the latest situation in Egypt and around the world.  

We are also taking this opportunity to share the Department of State's Avian Influenza Fact Sheet, which provides useful background and advice.  It can also be accessed directly via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.   

AVIAN INFLUENZA FACT SHEET

Background - H5N1 Avian Influenza

A number of countries have reported cases of avian influenza, commonly referred to as "bird flu" in their domestic and wild bird populations.  The H5N1 strain of influenza causes severe disease in domesticated fowl.  In addition, there continues to be a number of confirmed cases of bird-to-human transmissions of avian influenza, many of which have resulted in death. Please visit the World Health Organization (WHO) website, <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/en/> for the most up to date information on the countries affected and the number of deaths.
The vast majority of the known human cases have resulted from direct contact with poultry, and there is only limited evidence to suggest possible human-to-human transmission.  However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the WHO, and the Department of State are nonetheless concerned about the potential for human-to-human transmission of this highly dangerous flu strain, and are working closely with other partners in an effort to monitor the outbreak.  Concerns about the possibility of an avian influenza pandemic have prompted international and national efforts to institute pandemic preparedness measures.  Information on the U.S. Government's overall response and efforts is available at www.pandemicflu.gov.  

Travel and Avian Influenza

The Department of State, the CDC and the WHO have not issued any travel alerts or warnings for avian flu-infected areas.  However, the CDC advises travelers to countries with documented H5N1 outbreaks to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces or fluids from poultry or other animals.  Specific CDC travel information relating to avian influenza, including preventive measures, is available at <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm>.  WHO guidance related to avian influenza is available at <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/>.

This part is excerpted from Chapter 5 of the CAC Emergency Procedures Manual

CAMPUS SECURITY AND CLOSURE PROCEDURES

Stages of Alert

1.   Chain of Command

The Superintendent is authorized to close the school, delay the opening time of school, dismiss school early, or hold students past dismissal time if the Superintendent believes it is in the interest and well-being of students. If conditions remain where keeping school closed for more than one day seems advisable, the Superintendent shall confer with the Chair of the Board of Trustees before announcing the closing of school. In the case of a long-term disruption, the Superintendent will make a recommendation to the Board, and the Board will order an evacuation or long-term school closure. The Superintendent, Principals, and other designated personnel will implement all emergency plans. (Policy 4.2055)

2.   Security Plan Options

CAC has several options regarding the safety of its students and staff, depending upon the nature, location and severity of the crises. Options are as follows:

­     Routine

Normal awareness of possible security concerns should guide individual behaviors. Routine security precautions are in effect.

­     Low Alert

A general concern necessitates a precautionary, wait-and-see position by the school. Classes are suspended; therefore, students, faculty, and those support personnel who work mostly with students do not report.

·       Administrators and selected support staff report to school for a regular day. Supervisors will determine which support staff are needed or have work that can be accomplished.

·       The library, pool, and other athletic and arts facilities are closed to organized groups of CAC students and parents.

·       Only CAC ID cardholders are allowed on campus if they wish to use the track or playground for individual activities.

·       Security guards do random bag checks.

·       CAC after-school activities and field trips are canceled.

·       Increased CAC security personnel are on duty and a request for increased security presence from the Egyptian police and US Embassy security personnel is made.

·       Administration makes daily contact with a Regional Security Officer of the US Embassy.

­     High Alert: A local and specific concern is identified by the US or Egyptian government. The campus is temporarily closed to everyone except for the Superintendent, and designated administrators, security personnel, and Board members.

·       The campus is closed for all CAC activities and for activities by outside groups.

·       Security guards check all bags, boxes, etc.

·       Increased CAC security personnel are on duty and requests for increased security presence from the Egyptian police and US Embassy security personnel are made.

·       Administration makes daily contact with a Regional Security Officer of the US Embassy.

­     Student Safe Havens

CAC has identified two safe havens for students in circumstances when it is not safe for students to proceed home. The first is the CAC campus which would be locked down if it is deemed to be the safest environment under the emergency circumstances. If the CAC campus is deemed not to be safe and it is deemed unsafe to send students home, then the students will move to Victory College as a safe haven. They will walk in class groups supervised by CAC teaching and other staff as available.

­     Short Term Campus Closure

An immediate, specific, and persistent danger is identified. The Board closes the campus temporarily.

­     Closure for the Academic Year

An immediate, specific, and persistent danger is identified for the foreseeable future. The Board closes the campus for the academic year.

Immediate Response

1. Controlled Release Option when Students are at School

Events can occur during the school day when the school must reduce fear and anxiety by keeping students secure until their parents arrange for their safe transportation home or personally pick them up from school. Notification will come from the Superintendent that the students and staff will be following these procedures. Principals will notify teachers and provide them with a script of what to say to their students.

2.  Elementary School Procedures

­     Parents entering the school to pick up their children will come through the back gate and will be directed to the elementary school checkout center located in front of the Elementary Office. Elementary secretaries, counselors and additional personnel, if needed, will staff the elementary checkout center.

­     Students will remain with their classroom teacher until parents arrive to pick them up in their classroom.

­     Students in a specialist class (including ESL) will be escorted back to their regular classroom and teacher as soon as possible after the notification of an emergency. If the classroom teacher is not in the room, the specialist teacher will remain with the students in the regular classroom.

­     Elementary parents will then go directly to the classroom to pick up their children.

­     Teachers may ONLY release students to a parent OR to an adult or family member that has an authorization slip from the elementary checkout center.

­     Students who ride the bus will remain in the classroom until arrangements are made for a parent to pick up the child.

­     Elementary parents and students will exit through the back gate.

3.   Middle School procedures

­     Parents entering the school will be directed to one of three checkout centers. The area for grades 6-8 will be outside the Middle School Office. Parents will not be allowed to go to their children’s classroom without permission of an administrator.

­     The school secretaries and one or more counselors will staff checkout centers. A hard copy of the master schedule or its equivalent will be available for locating students. The student class list will be available and used to verify who came to school and picked up and left campus with the student or who called to arrange some other means for getting the student home.

­     Runners selected from the faculty and staff will be used to locate students and send them to the checkout center.

­     The daily class schedule will be followed until dismissal time.

­     Phone calls will be made to the homes of students who ride the bus to arrange for transportation.

­     Middle School parents and students will exit through the back gate.

4.   High School Procedures

­     Parents entering the school will be directed to one of three checkout centers. The area for grades 9-12 will be in the front of the library. Parents will not be allowed to go to their children’s classroom without permission of an administrator.

­     The school secretaries and one or more counselors will staff checkout centers. A hard copy of the master schedule or its equivalent will be available for locating students. The student class list will be available and used to verify who came to school and picked up and left campus with the student or who called to arrange some other means for getting the student home.

­     Runners selected from the faculty and staff will be used to locate students and send them to the checkout center. The staff will issue a pass to the student and both parent and student will exit through the back gate.

­     The daily class schedule will be followed until dismissal time. All students who have flex during the last period of the day are to report to the library. Off-campus privileges will cease with the announcement that emergency procedures are to be followed. At that time high school students will remain in their last period class.

­     All teachers who have flex during the last period of the day are to report to the High School where they will receive assignments (such as runners or replacements for teachers who need to leave campus).

­     Phone calls will be made to the homes of students who ride the bus to arrange for transportation.

­     Students may receive permission via phone to leave the campus if the last period teacher talks to the parent. Teachers will complete a pass verifying parental permission to leave the campus and give the pass to the student. The student will show the pass to the staff member who is working at the checkout center. The student will exit via the back gate.

­     Students leaving campus via parent checkout or phone request will present their passes to a high school administrator at the back gate.

­     High School students and parents will exit through the back gate.