Fixed Link: School Action to Reduce RSV Among Children

Oregon Department of Education sent this bulletin at 11/15/2022 08:20 PM PST

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To: Superintendents and Principals, Charter School Leaders, Private School Leaders, School Nurses, K-12 Public Information Officers, Communicable Disease Preparedness Liaisons and Education Partners 
From: Kati Moseley, Administrator, Health in Education  
Date: November 15, 2022 
Subject: School Action to Reduce RSV Among Children

We are resending this message from earlier today with a fixed link.   

Dear Colleagues, 

On November 14, 2022, Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order in response to a surge of pediatric cases and hospitalizations of respiratory viruses across Oregon. Increases in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses are straining the healthcare system nationwide, including Oregon. The executive order will help ensure that Oregon's hospitals are able to provide care for every child who needs it. Schools can also take steps to protect their school community from RSV and other respiratory viruses that are circulating in Oregon.  

RSV is a common respiratory virus that is transmitted through respiratory droplets, direct contact and by touching contaminated surfaces. For most children, RSV produces mild illness, however children under 2 years old are especially susceptible to RSV and are at increased risk of severe illness and hospitalization. It is important to note that many school age children have siblings at home who may be younger and more susceptible to severe illness and hospitalization.  

Schools can help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including RSV, COVID-19, and influenza. The ways we can prevent the spread of RSV and other respiratory illnesses are familiar and include frequent and thorough handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, masking, and disinfection of high-touch surfaces. We are encouraging schools to consider taking the following steps to protect their school community: 

  • Review and update (if needed) your school-level communicable disease management plan.  
  • Communicate the risk to families, asking them to keep children out of school when they are ill, and providing additional information about the signs of respiratory distress among young children that may require hospitalization. 
  • Share the benefits of staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. 
  • Recommend or encourage students and staff to wear face coverings when indoors during the respiratory illness season. 
  • Make sure bathrooms and classrooms are equipped for thorough and frequent hand washing.  
  • Implement additional cleaning measures. 

If you have any questions about this update, please contact us: ODECOVID19@ode.oregon.gov.  

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to ensure the health and success of students in Oregon.  

State of Oregon Health Alert Network

The United States is currently experiencing high levels of respiratory virus activity, especially among children, across multiple jurisdictions. Increases in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses are straining the healthcare system nationwide.  

On October 29, Oregon met RSV season onset criteria and RSV activity is increasing rapidly. Pediatric hospital capacity is currently limited in Oregon and is expected to be heavily strained based on forecasted levels of RSV activity ahead. 

RSV can cause severe disease in both young children and the elderly. Children under 2 years, and especially under 6 months, as well as children with underlying medical issues are at increased risk for hospitalization. Adults 65 years and older as well as those with chronic heart and lung disease and those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk for hospitalization. 

RSV is transmitted through respiratory droplets, direct contact and by touching contaminated surfaces. The risk of RSV is reduced by respiratory hygiene (e.g., covering coughs and sneezes), masking, hand hygiene and disinfection of high-touch surfaces. Oregon Health Authority encourages all individuals at increased risk of severe disease and their caregivers to take steps to prevent RSV infection this respiratory season. Some effective prevention measures people can take include:  

  • Washing hands thoroughly and frequently 
  • Keeping high-touch surface areas clean and regularly disinfected 
  • Keeping children out of school and daycare when they are sick 
  • Wearing a mask indoors in public places throughout the RSV season 
  • You can provide additional protection to children under 2 years (who are unable to mask) - - in particular those under 6 months - by asking visitors to wear a mask 

Health care providers and systems should take steps now to help address the surge in pediatric respiratory virus activity and optimize hospital capacity: 

  • Hospitals should maximize pediatric staffing, bed capacity and coordination across the state such as through the Regional Resource Hospital structure 
  • Outpatient providers and urgent care settings should maximize outpatient care, consider expanding hours of operation, and screen patients to prevent emergency department overload from patients not requiring hospitalization 
  • Provide information to families about the signs of respiratory distress among young children that may require hospitalization 

Additional information regarding RSV activity in Oregon can be found in Oregon’s RSV Report which is updated every Wednesday. 
______________________________________________________________ 

Unless otherwise noted, feel free to share this HAN notification with:  

  • Others within your organization.  
  • Professionals within your health, preparedness, and response affiliations. 

Oregon 24/7 disease reporting: 971-673-1111