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Special Public Health Announcements

Austin ISD monitoring Measles

Free at home COVID-19 tests now available. Visit: https://www.covid.gov/tests

 

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Measles FAQs

(El español está disponible abajo)

(Source: CDC)

How serious is Measles?

Measles is an airborne, extremely infectious and potentially severe rash illness. Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, an estimated 48,000 people were hospitalized and 400–500 people died in the United States each year.

Measles is not a seasonal virus. However, measles is often spread over times of high travel (like spring break) or in situations where unvaccinated persons are in close quarters (like summer camp).

Can I get Measles while traveling?

Measles can be found around the world and can live in the air for two hours after an infectious person leaves the space. Before any international travel, evaluate if your family needs early vaccine doses.

After you return, watch your health for three weeks and call your healthcare provider if you or your child gets sick with a rash and fever.

Why are some fully vaccinated people getting measles?

Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, one dose is 93% effective. It is uncommon for someone fully vaccinated to develop measles. However, breakthrough infections (when someone becomes infected after they have been vaccinated) can occur, especially in communities experiencing an outbreak where high levels of measles virus are circulating. The number of breakthrough infections (approximately 5% of total) is consistent with what we have seen in previous years.

How do I protect myself?

Prevent measles and talk to your healthcare provider about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, especially if planning to travel.

Why are we seeing more measles activity?

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. This was thanks to a very high percentage of people receiving the safe and effective measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In recent years, however:

For any questions/comments, please reach out to Austin ISD Health Services and Nursing via Let’s Talk.

Resources

About the Current Outbreak

Preguntas frecuentes sobre el sarampión

(fuente: CDC)

¿Qué tan grave es el sarampión?

El sarampión es una enfermedad que se transmite por el aire, es sumamente contagiosa y puede provocar erupciones cutáneas graves. Antes de que la vacuna contra el sarampión se introdujera en 1963, se estima que 48,000 personas fueron hospitalizadas y 400–500 personas murieron en Estados Unidos cada año.

El sarampión no es un virus propio de una estación. Sin embargo, el sarampión suele propagarse en épocas de mucho viaje (como las vacaciones de primavera) o en situaciones en las que personas no vacunadas se encuentran en espacios reducidos (como en campamentos de verano).

¿Puedo contraer sarampión mientras viajo?

El sarampión se puede encontrar en todo el mundo y puede vivir en el aire durante dos horas después de que una persona infectada abandone el lugar. Antes de cualquier viaje internacional, evalúe si su familia necesita las primeras dosis de vacunas.

Después de regresar, controle su salud durante tres semanas y llame a su proveedor de atención médica si usted o su hijo se enferman con sarpullido y fiebre.

¿Por qué algunas personas completamente vacunadas contraen sarampión?

Dos dosis de la vacuna contra MMR tienen una eficacia del 97% para prevenir el sarampión, una dosis tiene una eficacia del 93%. Es poco común que una persona completamente vacunada contraiga el sarampión. Sin embargo, pueden producirse infecciones posvacunación (cuando alguien se infecta después de haber sido vacunado), especialmente en comunidades que experimentan un brote donde circulan altos niveles del virus del sarampión. La cantidad de infecciones posvacunación (aproximadamente el 5% del total) es congruente con lo que hemos visto en años anteriores.

¿Cómo me protejo?

Prevenga el sarampión y hable con su proveedor de atención médica sobre la vacuna contra el sarampión, las paperas y la rubéola (MMR), especialmente si planea viajar.

¿Por qué estamos viendo más actividad del sarampión?

El sarampión fue declarado eliminado en los Estados Unidos en el año 2000. Esto se debió a que un porcentaje muy alto de personas recibieron la vacuna segura y eficaz contra el sarampión, las paperas y la rubéola (MMR). Sin embargo, en los últimos años:

  • La cobertura de MMR entre los niños de kínder en los EE. UU. ahora está por debajo de la meta de cobertura del 95% (mucho más bajo en algunas comunidades) y sigue disminuyendo.
  • La actividad global del sarampión está aumentando, lo que significa que hay más posibilidades de que una persona no vacunada regrese del extranjero infectada con sarampión a los Estados Unidos.

Si tiene cualquier pregunta o comentario, comuníquense con Servicios de Salud y Enfermería del Austin ISD a través de Let’s Talk.

Recursos

Sobre el brote actual 

Austin Public Health

APH staff provide guidance and support for local public health issues related to illness, injury, and disease. Austin ISD partners with APH on health initiatives to provide education and awareness for prevailing health concerns in the community. 

For more information about APH Services and Programs, visit:
https://www.austintexas.gov/department/health

Mental Health

Austin ISD School Mental Health Resources 
Please contact your school’s Counselor for assistance with mental health support and services. For additional information, please visit Licensed Mental Health professionals

COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

School Year 2024-2025

CDC COVID-19 Website
Learn about the coronavirus, its symptoms, and what to do if you are sick

What You Need to Know

  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved and authorized the 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines on August 22, 2024. FDA authorized Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2024-2025 Formula) under Emergency Use Authorization on August 30, 2024. For more information, please visit the link below:

Bust myths and learn the facts about COVID-19 vaccines.

Austin COVID-19 Vaccine Information

COVID-19 Vaccines

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine helps to lower your chances of getting COVID-19, spreading it to others, and ending up in the hospital. Staying up-to-day with your COVID vaccines is strongly encouraged. 

Local vaccine clinic opportunities are available online.

Masks

Masks are optional in Austin ISD.

Masks continue to be an effective way of preventing the spread of COVID-19 for those who choose to wear them.

Austin COVID-19 Testing Information

Screening

We strongly encourage all individuals to screen for symptoms per CDC guidelines before coming to campus.

Anyone who is sick should stay home and contact their campus immediately.

Local COVID-19 Testing Resources

COVID-19 tests are available to everyone in the U.S., including the uninsured.

For the nearest COVID-19 testing facility, please visit:  testing locations

Free Covid-19 at home tests can be ordered here: https://www.covid.gov/tests

Sick Individuals

If you are feeling sick

If you or your child are feeling sick, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not, please stay home and contact your medical provider and campus as soon as possible.

If you test positive

Those who test positive will need to stay home and report their case by calling the school’s front office and asking for the COVID-19 designee. Staff should report the COVID-19 positive result to their supervisor.

Returning to school

Effective March 18, 2024:

Any student or staff who tests positive will need to have markedly improved symptoms and be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school.  Wearing a mask upon return is optional, but encouraged whenever possible.

Cleaning

We are cleaning and disinfecting our classrooms and buses daily. Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations are easily found in our hallways. Students are encouraged to wash hands frequently.

If you have any questions, please reach out through Let’s Talk.

Please note that while we do not expect many or any changes to the above protocols, we will continue to adjust protocols and communicate any changes as new governmental mandates and health authority recommendations are given.

Fentanyl Information and Resources

Austin ISD is committed to being part of the fight against the nationwide fentanyl crisis. Fentanyl overdoses in neighboring school districts have raised concern for our community. We want you to be informed and encourage you to partner with us to create awareness and keep our schools safe. We are partnering with Austin ISD Police Department, Emergency Management and local health authorities to promote an awareness campaign to inform and educate all students, staff and members in the Austin ISD community. 

Austin ISD’s Prevention and Emergency Response Plan

  • Provide information and education to staff, students and families about the prevention of Opioid overdoses including fentanyl related incidents.
  • Every Austin ISD elementary, middle, and high school campus will be supplied with Narcan, a medical solution that can restore normal breathing if a person is experiencing a fentanyl related overdose.
  • Every school campus will have designated staff who will receive training before being allowed to administer Narcan on their campus.

Find Resources: School | Family

Lice Guidelines and Procedures

Texas Department of Health and Human Services: 

Head Lice (Pediculosis) Fact Sheets - English

Hojas Informativas Sobre los Piojos en la Cabeza - En Español

What are lice?

Head lice, although not an illness or a disease, is very common among school-aged children and may be spread through head-to-head contact during play, sports, or nap time, and when children share things like brushes, combs, hats, and headphones. 

Head lice do not jump or fly and are most commonly contracted by head-to-head contact. Head lice are commonly found in school-aged children, so parents/guardians should routinely monitor their students for live lice at home.

Head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene. Please take a few minutes to regularly check your child's head for lice and nit (eggs). Lice can be very hard to see because they are so small and often look like dandruff. The easiest way to differentiate nits from dandruff is the ease with which you can remove them from the hair shaft. Dandruff can be easily "picked" off while nits are stuck onto the hair shaft and require much more effort to remove. Lice can be hard to see as well because they are small, approximately the size of a sesame seed, and they will move quickly to avoid light. 

School Policy

Austin ISD follows the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health for the treatment of lice and school attendance guidelines for students who are identified with head lice.

Students will not be excluded from school due to head lice as Austin ISD does not enforce a “No-nit” policy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) support that there is little evidence that exclusion from school reduces the transmission of head lice (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2007, 2014). For additional information, please review Austin ISD Lice Prevention, Control, and Treatment Policy.

Students identified with head lice may complete the school day and information addressing lice management and treatment is sent home for the student and parent or legal guardian. The state does urge school districts not to cause children to miss class unnecessarily or encourage the embarrassment and isolation of students who suffer from repeated head lice. 

Mass screenings for head lice are not done in school. They impede the educational process and are not necessary. No disease is associated with head lice, and in-school transmission is considered to be low. When transmission occurs, it is generally found among young children with increased head-to-head contact.. Head lice occurs world wide and among all socioeconomic groups.

School Guidelines

In accordance with TDHS, if live lice are found on a student’s head, the school nurse will contact the student’s parent to discuss a plan for treatment with an FDA-approved, over-the-counter treatment that may be purchased from any drug or grocery store. After the student has undergone treatment, the parent should check in with the school nurse to discuss the treatment used. 

For Elementary school students, a school letter will be sent home to the student’s parent and to the entire classroom alerting other parents to check their children for lice. If nits are found, a letter will go home only to the parent of the student. An anonymous letter will also be provided to parents of school students in the affected classroom. Upon return to school, the student will be reassessed. Parents/guardians will be notified as needed. Absences due to delayed treatment will not be excused.

Classroom or school-wide checks have not been found to be effective in lice management and the practice is not supported by the AAP or the CDC. Austin ISD policy supports this philosophy. At the Elementary school level, a classroom notification sent to parents within five days of a single incidence of lice in the class. Since many lice cases are discovered and treated at home, please let the school nurse know if you have discovered lice on your child. Your child's privacy will be maintained at all times.

The most important thing to remember is whatever treatment you use, follow the instructions EXACTLY as recommended for the treatment to reduce the risk of re-infestation. It's extremely important that you purchase and use a lice comb that has teeth that are very close together. This process is tedious (thus the term "nit-picking") but necessary to get all the nits out. Wash towels, bedding, jackets and any other items that are being used daily at home.

Keep checking your child's head every few days for the next 6-8 weeks. Only re-treat hair If live lice are still moving. Always check in with the school nurse or your child’s health professional if you are unsure of which treatment to use.

Treatment of head lice guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found at: www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/treatment.html 

Lice Prevention 

The best treatment for lice is prevention. Throughout the school year, check your child's hair weekly and after overnight visits with other children. Educate your children to avoid sharing hats, combs, brushes, and other commonly shared items. 

Nits not killed by treatments will continue to hatch within 7-10 days. All nits should be removed to prevent reinfestation and permit early recognition of any new infestation.

Additional Health Information

Additional Health Information

Flu Resources   

Get the shot, not the Flu! Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others from the flu. 

Flu Prevention

Pink Eye

  • Help Protect Yourself from getting and spreading Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) - English
  • Help Protect Yourself from getting and spreading Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) - Spanish

Bed Bugs 

Austin ISD Wellness Policy - English - Spanish

Healthy Snack, Non-Food Reward and Fundraising Ideas

Outdoors and Physical Activity

Athletics