Mobile Co Schools prepare for swine flu

MOBILE, Ala. - When children go back to school and the weather cools off, the H1N1 Swine flu is likely to flare up again.

With a vaccine months away, there's not much health officials can do.

However, the Mobile County School System has a plan to tackle the problem through education.

Some soap, water and a good scrub. But most people don't wash their hands often or long enough to kill all the germs.

"It's the number one technique to stop the spread of any disease." said Dr. Wanda Hannon.

Dr. Hannon with the Mobile County School System said with the likely re-emergence of the H1N1 swine flu, the first lesson children will get this school year is Suds 101.

"This year in preparation of H1N1 flu we're really putting an extra effort on every child."

From pre-Kindergarten to seniors and every one on staff, the entire system will get education in transmission prevention.

That's because the first doses of H1N1 vaccine won't be ready until mid-October.

But that shot alone won't be enough.

Another shot is required three weeks later. The vaccine will need two weeks to provide total immunity. It will take until about December before the first people are immune to the virus.

Until then, washing hands, covering sneezes and staying home when sick are our only tools to fight this virus.

"We have a goal right now, unless the Public Health Department changes that, every child and every employee is to have hand washing education before November 1st."