World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic

It was on the news, it was online, it was in the newspapers, everywhere we looked we learned about the spread of a new virus. H1N1, formerly known as the Swine Flu, was everywhere. There were cases spreading through our states, some fatalities were reported, some schools closed. Then this big news didn't seem so big anymore. People began thinking, "Okay, that was mild, time to get back to normal." Not true.

In the United States alone there were 27 deaths due to H1N1. There have been multiple cases of the virus in all 50 states. 500+ schools closed for a minimum of one week. Now we learn that this is a serious issue - this is a pandemic.

A pandemic does not mean that we have to panic. There is no need to barricade yourself in your home or wear surgical masks; you just have to realize that this is not over and you should be cautious. How? The simplest and best way to avoid contracting a contagious virus like H1N1 is to wash your hand frequently. Hand sanitizers and hand wipes have been recommended by the CDC.

Of course Armor Healthcare has these products that are perfect for school environments. The attached link says that the most effected group of people are young people, people under 25 ... how many of those people under 25 are in schools daily? Schools need to protect this vulnerable age group from getting sick, and it is as simple as providing the products that are in our Classroom Caddy. If this pandemic is anything like the influenza outbreaks of our past, this mild spring outbreak will be nothing compared to the problems we could face in the fall - prevention is the best medicine!