Reported By Heather Sorentrue
ORLANDO -- As students get ready to head back to school, Gov. Charlie Crist says families need to be focusing on preventing the spread of swine flu.
The governor joined state and local leaders at McCoy Elementary School Friday to emphasize the importance of good hygiene.
Local health departments will be working with school districts to identify clusters of H1N1 cases, but they said closing schools will be a last resort.
“We just have to look at it on a case by case basis,” said Orange County Superintendent Ronald Blocker. “I don't think our parents would want us to get into a series of opening, closing, opening, closing, opening, closing. It's a disruption to them. We're already asking them to have a contingency plan, a plan B in the event their children have to stay home.”
State leaders said they've contacted the superintendent in every Florida school district to go over infectious disease protocols in hopes of preventing an outbreak.
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What Should You Do?
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the best tips concern everyday hygiene.
Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze, and stay home if you are sick.
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