Agape Boarding School

Due to the recent outbreak of the H1N1 virus, commonly called the “Swine flu,” the Agapé administration is taking the following steps to minimize any potential problems:

First, we routinely encourage the students to wash their hands using either soap and water or products such as Germ-X and are again reminding the students to do this. This practice, along with covering coughs and sneezes, is the best protection against exposure to the virus. In fact, these are the first two pieces of advice that the Centers for Disease Control lists for parents (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/parents.htm).

Second, since we have approximately 250 people in close quarters, we usually have several students each year catch other types of the flu, so our staff routinely deal with mini-outbreaks. We have the ability and the facilities to quarantine sick students once they become symptomatic. The heightened awareness of the “Swine flu” alerts our medical staff to watch for the symptoms and enact the policies already in place to take care of these students.

Lastly, we work closely with the doctors in town, so if a situation were to develop (and there have been no cases in Missouri to this point) we would contact the local health department and the local doctors for further instructions. Communication with these agencies has been and will continue to be the basis for our medical care for the students.

Please rest assured that we are watching these developments carefully and working towards minimizing any problems. If you have any questions regarding our policies, please feel free to call me at (417) 276-7215.

Rich