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Flu is here, but what kind? Several students out of school; no confirmation on type

By angieh@newstribune.com - angieh@newstribune.com
Published: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 1:10 PM CDT
The flu season has hit some area schools months early.

On Monday, the Jefferson City Public Schools was alerted that several students had tested positive for Influenza A.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that as many as 98 percent of cases of Influenza A is actually H1N1.

Since confirmation has not been completed on the tests given the affected students, it is not possible to say with 100 percent certainty that the pandemic flu has entered the district.

“The main thing we want parents to know is that we are doing all we can to make sure their children are safe when in school,” said David Luther, community relations director for the Jefferson City Public Schools. “We will continue to follow the lead of the medical community on what to do.”

Luther said schools have reported a slight increase in absentees, although, he said, school nurses say it is no cause for alarm.

“The number of students we have out is no cause for alarm,” Luther said. “Some of the students may be out as a reaction to all of the attention the flu is getting.”

The district sent a letter home to all parents on Monday, telling them of the possible outbreak and reaffirming hygiene tips and time frames for children returning to school.

“If the students is ill, we are asking parents to keep them home until they have been fever free for 24-hours, without using fever reducing medications,” Luther said.

Jane Hubbs, director of the Cole County Health Department, said the best thing to do is practice prevention.

“Use good hygiene. Use hand sanitizer. We recommend students use it as often as they can or in between each class,” she said. “Some parents are concerned their children do not have access to it. Buy some for each of your children and put it in their book bags so they always have access.”

Joseph Gulino, principal of St. Peter School, said 17 students were out on Monday, with illnesses he believed were flu related.

He said although it is not a high percentage of his 460 students, it is an increase in the number of students typically seen out due to illness this time of year.

While some districts have found themselves in the midst of the flu outbreaks, others have been able to avoid increased illness among their students.

To view the entire article, please go to our e-edition/">e-edition.



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Rekib wrote on Sep 11, 2009 9:39 AM:

" Tracing the number of flu cases is gonna be hard to do. The documented ones from ER's and Dr's officies are easy to count of course, but what about those that just don't go the ER's, or seek any kind of medical treatment. CDC and WHO, ( Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization) say the real flu season has not hit yet. And please don't forget this information, we will have TWO flu's this season, the regular Influenza A, and H1N1, and each carries its own mortality rate. So the numbers of deaths due to the flu, ( both combined ) will be twice as high this winter. "

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boscoe wrote on Sep 9, 2009 2:16 PM:

" What's the latest on the Jeff City flu outbreak? Any word on attendance?

Brooks, sorry to hear your daughter is infected. Hope she gets well quickly. "

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brooks wrote on Sep 8, 2009 5:22 PM:

" My daughter was diagnosed yesterday & when we left the urgent care there were probably 20-25 kids in the waiting room. "

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really? wrote on Sep 8, 2009 11:52 AM:

" Now that a week has passed, I'm curious what the current situation is at the schools and in the county. They couldn't confirm H1N1 a week ago, but what about now? How many additional cases are showing up in the school district? Is the increase in absences a result of parents reacting to the August 31st letter or are there more potential cases? "

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bluenurse wrote on Sep 6, 2009 1:31 AM:

" There is some thinking that people in their 50s or older already have some natural resistance, have been exposed to a similar strain at some point. Swine flu is infecting children & young adults primarily. The good thing about that is that if they are healty to begin with, they are less prone to complications. I just read that if "older" adults get sick with swine flu, it will probably be a milder form than younger people are getting. "

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aweed wrote on Sep 5, 2009 1:48 AM:

" Just for all you parents who think kids should just develop an immunity to this flu, and especially the swine flu (H1N1) is NOT smart by any means.... I do not know if you keep up on the health news, but there has been many reported, confirmed cases of death because of the swine flu. The vaccinations coming and medication is avaliable for the flu, so do your child/ children a favor and take them to a doctor and discuss the options and get medication!!!! "

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My2DollarsWorth wrote on Sep 4, 2009 2:23 PM:

" Below are key point from JC Public Schools health policy. Parents must strictly follow for any illness to run its course. Our school is doing a great job, and need our support. Ask them if you have any questions, they will be encouraged by your willingness to take care of your child and be part of the overall solution

- Fever of 100 degrees or higher (must be temperature free 24 hours without fever reducing medication before returning)

- Vomiting and/or diarrhea, fainting

- Strep throat (following a positive throat culture the child must be on antibiotics and without fever for 24 hours before returning to school) "

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jclocal123 wrote on Sep 4, 2009 1:00 PM:

" My husband said something similar to that...this current bout of Swine Flu is apparently pretty mild. So, let the kids get it and develop immunity now, rather than later this fall/winter when it could be a more severe strain. "

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boscoe wrote on Sep 4, 2009 9:19 AM:

" Good point, SillyRabbit. I recall the SouthPark episode where one of the kids got the measles and all the mothers in town purposely exposed their kids to the sick kid so they could all get the measles and get it over with. Seemed pretty smart to me. "

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sillyrabbit wrote on Sep 4, 2009 8:27 AM:

" chrissy- that's exactly why we need to make certain every man woman and child is exposed to this flu strain, because our bodies haven't yet built up any type of resistance. The only way to do that is by letting it run it's natural course. People need to think long term, if we don't build resistance from H1N1 then when the next strain comes along then we won't have the necessary resistance and it will kill millions. STOP the insanity, we don't need anti-bacterial soap and all this other junk. "

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bluenurse wrote on Sep 3, 2009 10:32 PM:

" Thanks for the kind words, misshoney & jcmo.

Hope everybody is feeling much better! "

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ok wrote on Sep 3, 2009 6:02 PM:

" so far the schools are letting the kids come back 24 hours after no fever. I guess that means they are still contagous for 5 days after that? "

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boscoe wrote on Sep 3, 2009 4:06 PM:

" A doctor on the TV news the other day said that it takes 6 days after the fever breaks before the patient isn't contagous. That is gonna be a lot of school time missed. "

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worried wrote on Sep 3, 2009 3:27 PM:

" My daughter tested positive for Influenza "A"

Thank you "OK" "

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jook wrote on Sep 3, 2009 3:00 PM:

" I work at the State Public Health Lab where we test all the samples sent in by the state of Missouri. At this point in time, no matter what flu you test positive for, it will be classified as H1N1 for safety purposes. All state employees are being sent home as well if they show signs of possible infection. There is a shot you can get that has 3 phases. It should be free for people up to the age of 21. "

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Bsnoltth wrote on Sep 3, 2009 2:38 PM:

" qtpieblonde wrote
"Here's what the medical ppl tell you, cough into your elbow and not your hands. Brilliant!!! And these people are educated. Think about it, where do kids REST their elbows, yep their desks, and how many people sit at that desk a day? Is every desk being sanitized between classes?"

Your name doesn't lie, does it, the blonde part? =P

Just how do YOU sit at a desk to where you are resting the inside of your elbow on the surface of the desk?

The point is to not cough into your hands, for obvious reasons. "

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ok wrote on Sep 3, 2009 1:08 PM:

" yeah, It is good that the schools are sending kids home if they see that a child is sick. I bet your daughter wasn't even sick earlier that day. Teachers have to keep a sharp eye on the students.
Hope your daughter has a speedy recovery! "

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worried wrote on Sep 3, 2009 12:54 PM:

" Just a little FYI...........
My daughter goes to TJMS. She was sent home yesterday with 103 fever. Took her to the Doctor today where it was confirmed by nose swab that she has the H1N1 virus. I believe that the schools are doing the right thing. Its better to be safe than sorry. "

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ok wrote on Sep 3, 2009 8:58 AM:

" qtpieblonde wrote on Sep 3, 2009 3:58 AM:
" Here's what the medical ppl tell you, cough into your elbow and not your hands. Brilliant!!! And these people are educated. Think about it, where do kids REST their elbows, yep their desks, and how many people sit at that desk a day? "

Yes qtpie, you are supposed to cough into the crook of your arm (the elbow) or your arm. The inside on your arm will not be resting on the desk (unless you sit in a desk a completely different way than the rest of us) You are not to cough into your hands because the germs or virus is now on your hands and whatever else you touch, Brilliant!! "

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GeeWhiz wrote on Sep 3, 2009 7:44 AM:

" I went in to a local clinic on Saturday, and was told by the doc there that they used to test for strep & H1N1 flu but the health dept said that they didn't have that many cases, so they could stop testing. "

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qtpieblonde wrote on Sep 3, 2009 3:58 AM:

" Here's what the medical ppl tell you, cough into your elbow and not your hands. Brilliant!!! And these people are educated. Think about it, where do kids REST their elbows, yep their desks, and how many people sit at that desk a day? Is every desk being sanitized between classes? "

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joytotheworld wrote on Sep 2, 2009 7:38 PM:

" I think this flu was planted by the democrats to stifle the weak. ;) "

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jcmo5266 wrote on Sep 2, 2009 12:52 PM:

" Misshoneybee I agree. I would welcome a nurse with common sense to the school health room. My daughter goes to Lewis & Clark which is one of the hardest hit schools in the district, and let me tell you the kids are freaking out. My daughter has bad allergies and sinus problems when the weather cools off (like the past week) and she sounds terrible. But, she is not contagious. I check her twice a day (morning and evening) to make sure she isn't running a temp, but I am waiting for the school to try to send her home. While the flu (any type) can be serious, we all need to use common sense! "

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misshoneybee wrote on Sep 2, 2009 12:33 PM:

" Well if I had MY say in the matter, I want BLUENURSE working in my child's school nurse's office!!! "

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chrissy72 wrote on Sep 2, 2009 9:08 AM:

" Jjgger-I understand it's just a flu, but it's new, no vaccine out yet, and our bodies have not yet built up any type of resistance. This flu is also causing more severe problems in younger people, not so much the elderly like the normal seasonal flu. "

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hmarie775 wrote on Sep 2, 2009 8:44 AM:

" Well for one Jigger swine flu "can" be more serious for those with heart conditions or weakened lungs as studies confirmed findings that the swine flu virus is able to grow deeper into the victim's lungs, allowing it to cause viral pneumonia. That may be why some victims with underlying medical conditions are more likely to develop severe illness from infections. "

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Jigger wrote on Sep 2, 2009 7:16 AM:

" Why does it matter what kind of flu? Flu is Flu. H1N1 is just the flu. People are panicking over the reputation of the "Swine Flu" that the media is giving to it. Precautions should be made in any case. "

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bluenurse wrote on Sep 1, 2009 9:58 PM:

" Sorry! I meant "chrissy" "

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bluenurse wrote on Sep 1, 2009 9:58 PM:

" christy: the only way to verify a specific strain of flu is through a nasal swab. My guess is, they don't want to take a chance so they send any kid home who exhibits possible symptoms of swine flu. Procedure much the same for "wintertime" influenza.

I also wonder of some of these kids just have colds. Prevelance of any type of resp. infection increases when people are more "closed in"; also, weather has been very cool since late last week - this can cause stress on the body & make you more susceptible to any type of infection.

Hope this helps. Please try not to worry. "

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chrissy72 wrote on Sep 1, 2009 7:55 PM:

" Check out the live chat with Dr. Tomblinson, an ER doc from Capital Region, on KRCG, they have the transcript posted. "

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boscoe wrote on Sep 1, 2009 5:18 PM:

" I just had to laugh out loud yesterday. A buddy who works for the state said they got an e-mail from the OA department (facilities maintenance division) that said due to cutbacks they were not going to clean the state buildings as often as they had been. I thought: What a great time to reduce the cleaning in state office buildings when Swine Flu outbreak is right around the corner!

Of course it may be a good way to reduce the number of state workers, so maybe it is planned. "

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cc5150 wrote on Sep 1, 2009 3:23 PM:

" very disturbing picture "

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chrissy72 wrote on Sep 1, 2009 2:56 PM:

" I agree with it's-me. I think they are trying to minimize bad publicity, when in fact, it is doing just the opposite. The number of kid being sent home with flu like symptoms is ALOT higher than what they are reporting, do they think parents don't talk to one another? I mean, really, I bet later this week the schools will be singing a different tune. LOL "

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chrissy72 wrote on Sep 1, 2009 2:53 PM:

" The title of this article, "no confirmation on type" if 98% of the cases that actually test positive for Influenza A come back as HINI, AND if Influenza A is not currently "in season" how can they really question the confirmation of the type of flu? "

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its-me wrote on Sep 1, 2009 2:51 PM:

" My daughter goes to Lewis & Clark & yesterday she said that she knew of at least 42 kids that go sent home. I don't believe JC Schools numbers. I also heard that there were about 80 sent home from the high school. "

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chrissy72 wrote on Sep 1, 2009 1:41 PM:

" If this is the case, how come the kids that are out have been SENT home? I have heard between Simonson and Lewis and Clark, 175 kids were SENT home yesterday. This number did not CHOOSE to stay home in reaction to the letter, and/or fear. I think the schools, government and the media need to inform of the whole truth, the whole story so we, as parents, can be prepared. Not knowing, if my child says her throat hurts, I may not think too much of it, but if I KNEW that it was in her school, I would handle differently. "

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