Schools Dealing With Flu; Absences At Normal Levels
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Rumors are running rampant about swine flu and Leesburg Elementary School.
Warsaw Community Schools Head Nurse Becky Vogt responded this morning to those stories.
"It's in all the buildings, (in Warsaw schools) but we're not sure it's the swine flu," Vogt said.
Students have flu-like symptoms. However, the only two places in the area that can test for the H1N1 virus is MedStat and Dr. William Remington's office. A person has to get a nasal swab to test for H1N1, and the swab goes deep into the nasal passage.One caller reported 50 students were out of Leesburg Elementary School the other day. The school has about 550 students. Vogt said 48 total students were absent the day before yesterday, but they were not all for flu-like symptoms. Some were on vacation, some had doctor appointments and some were out of school but no one called in for them.
Each school day, Vogt said, every school has up to 10 percent of its students missing for various reasons. If 48 students were gone, that's less than 10 percent of the 550 students at Leesburg.
If a school gets to 20 percent or more absences in a building due to flu-like symptoms, the health department then will be called in. A decison then will be made as to whether or not to close that particular school. Vogt said a school, in that case, probably would be closed for about five days.
Vogt said the swine flu and the regular flu are probably here in all the schools. However, the schools can't say a student has the swine flu definitely. They can only say the student has flu-like symptoms. Students are out of school with flu-like symptoms in all the Warsaw schools, Vogt said.
Parents will sometimes take their child to the physician, and the child will get diagnosed as having the flu. Vogt said it's not unusual for the parent to then call in and say the child has H1N1.
If a child has the flu, there is no treatment for the virus. A student just has to be kept home, take tylenol and get plenty of rest. A student should not go back to school for 24 hours after the fever breaks and after they stop taking tylenol.
All WCS staff that wanted the flu shot will receive it for $15 by the end of the week, Vogt said.
Leesburg Principal Randy Dahms said like every school concerned, they are doing all they can to keep the school safe. That includes everything from encouraging kids to wash their hands to telling parents to keep their child home if the child has a fever.
"We're pretty proud of the efforts we've done so far," he said.
School officials discussed H1N1 Tuesday morning, he said, and it's an issue at the forefront of their minds.
Kosciusko County Health Department this week received a limited supply of the H1N1 influenza vaccine from the Indiana State Department of Health.
A portion of the supply will be distributed to physician groups throughout the county. People are advised to contact their primary care physician for availability. In addition, the health department will hold clinics for distribution of the H1N1 vaccine Thursday and Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
The clinics will be held at the K21 Health Services Pavilion, 1515 Provident Drive, Suite 160. The vaccine will be offered to qualified priority group candidates on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Supplies are limited and priority groups to receive the vaccine are as follows: pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, all people from 6 months through 24 years of age, and people ages 25-64 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
According to the Center for Disease Control Web site, most people who get the flu, either seasonal or the 2009 H1N1, will have mild illness, will not need medical care or antiviral drugs, and will recover in less than two weeks. Some people, however, are more likely to get flu complications that result in being hospitalized and occasionally result in death. Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections are examples of flu-related complications. The flu can make chronic health problems worse.
The CDC states that people at high risk for flu complications include children younger than 5, adults 65 years old or older, pregnant women and people with cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders and weakened immune systems.
In a press release provided previously by Kosciusko County Communicable Disease Nurse Teresa Miller, it states, "A significant rise in influenza-like illness has occurred in Kosciusko County. Many of these illnesses have tested as positive for Influenza A. Most Influenza A that is occurring is due to the 2009 Novel H1N1 influenza strain. This is also occurring throughout the state and country.
"As of this time, most 2009 H1N1 infected individuals are experiencing mild illness and do not require medical care or testing. Individuals with mild illness should remain home and treat the illness as any other flu," the press release states. "The ill individuals should remain home at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. Individuals with severe illness or special health consideration should consult with their health care providers. The current recommendations do not recommend exclusion of contacts or family of those with probable or confirmed H1N1 illness from work or school."
Some tips to help prevent the spread of H1N1 include:
Cover your cough or sneeze. Use a tissue and throw it away or use your arm to cover your nose and mouth.
Stay home if you are ill. Stay home for 24 hours once a fever ends.
Teach your students to wash their hands often and thoroughly with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer.
Teach your students to not share personal items like drinks, foods or utensils.
