San Diego county health officers will meet with the local school district officials today to discuss the coming flu season.
The Centers for Disease Control estimate up to 40 percent of Americans will get the swine flu in the next two years. And much of the transmission of H1N1 virus will occur in schools. San Diego county deputy health officer Dean Sidelinger says the meeting will focus on ways to inform kids and parents about how to avoid getting the flu. Sidelinger says he wants to be sure that kids at greater risk are urged to get vaccinated.
"Kids with asthma, for example," he said. "The schools can hopefully be a vehicle to get the word out to them about the importance to them of getting their flu shot, even more important than other kids because they may have more complications."
Sidelinger says the CDC will soon publish new guidelines for closing schools where swine flu is prevalent. This flu spreads quickly because there's no widespread human immunity. A vaccine is expected to be ready in the fall.
