Schools in the South Bay are stepping up infection control efforts just in case a student is diagnosed with the Ebola virus.
The San Jose Unified School District, which has 32,000 students, is taking the same infection-control precautions it has always relied on to deal with the flu, whooping cough and the entero virus. School officials said concerns about Ebola have prompted the district to step up efforts.
"If they come in for anything even a skinned knee we will check their temperature," Melinda Landau, a registered nurse who works at the school district.
The district is also identifying rooms to isolate sick students should the Santa Clara County Public Health Department require that like it did in 2010 to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.
Students have also been instructed to hand wash with warm water and soap. The district also is reminding parents to do their part.
"The big message for parents is keep them home," Landau said. "We know there are many times parents have to work and want to send their sick kids to school, but if they have a temperature they need to keep them home."
