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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 11:30 AM

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Return to school could bring H1N1 flu outbreak

School districts taking early steps to combat ‘swine flu’

By VICKIE MOSS, Herald Public Affairs Editor

You won’t hear a lot of coughs in the halls at Central Heights schools today. You won’t hear many kids complaining “I don’t feel good.”

Not yet.

After all, today is just the fourth day of school. And it’s August.

August isn’t exactly flu season.

But the H1N1 virus, widely known as the swine flu, doesn’t seem to follow the rules when it comes to influenza.

H1N1, a new virus that originated with swine, first was detected in Mexico and the United States in March and April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms are similar to seasonal flu. But unlike most flu viruses that most dramatically sicken the elderly, H1N1 primarily affects younger adults and children, as well as people with underlying medical conditions or who are pregnant.

No local cases have been confirmed, but health and school officials expect the virus to spread more rapidly as children return to school.

School nurses say they have been communicating regularly with the county health department, teachers, staff and parents to try to keep the virus at bay.

“Primarily what we are doing is taking precautions right now,” Sandee Meyer, school nurse at Central Heights, said.

“Hand washing is the primary thing we’re teaching this year.”

Classrooms are either equipped with sinks or sanitizer, she said. The district sent parents letters specifically about the H1N1 virus and the precautions the district, parents and students should take.

Midge Ransom, director of the Franklin County Health Department, said she expects to receive anywhere between 3,500 to 12,000 doses of a vaccine for H1N1 later this fall, likely in mid-October. Depending on the number of doses provided, health care providers could limit initial vaccinations to people at the highest risk of contracting the virus, mostly pregnant women, children younger than 4 and people with underlying medical conditions.

Within six months, however, she expects to have enough vaccine to cover anyone who desires protection.

She and school officials also have discussed the possibility of vaccination clinics at area schools, she told county commissioners during a study session Monday morning.

So far, the virus seems to cause mild to moderate illness, Ransom said. This influenza virus has gotten a lot of attention because it affects mostly younger people, has a higher hospitilization rate than other flu viruses and has occurred during the summer, Ransom said.

Students returned to school Thursday at Central Heights and school begins this week for other schools in the county.

Dotson Bradbury, superintendent at West Franklin schools, said administrators and staff have discussed H1N1 during in-service days this week. He said the staff will follow federal guidelines, like sending home sick kids, as the need arises.

The virus also has been discussed at Wellsville schools, where school nurse Sherry Chrisjohn said she will attend a meeting Monday to further discuss procedures if the virus is confirmed in the district.

Ottawa Superintendent Dean Katt said school administrators and the school nurse are working with state and local health departments to make sure staff are prepared for H1N1 or any other illnesses that come up. Custodial staff thoroughly cleaned and disinfected desks this summer and will continue to do so throughout the year, Katt said.

“We’ll be ready to take whatever action we need to take,” he said.

Meyer, the school nurse at Central Heights, said it is unusual to be so concerned about the flu the first few days of school.

“I haven’t seen anything that looks like the flu. So far so good,” Meyer said. “We’re hoping to keep it that way.”