Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11307146
http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11307215

A joint decision between the school district, Medical Advisor and Taylor County Health Department, in consultation with the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, announces the closing of Medford Area Public School District because of the high incidence of influenza like illness. The district has confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus among students, increasing our district absence rate to over 19% (with the high school at 30%) or one out of five students are experiencing influenza-like illness symptoms. All co-curricular activities are canceled in conjunction with this school closure.

Effective Wednesday, October 14, 2009, through Sunday, October 18, 2009, school will be closed. School will resume on Monday, October 19, 2009.

During this time, Parent-Teacher Conferences; all athletic practices and competitions - both home and away; and all academic activities, i.e. play practice, forensics, science team, etc. are canceled for Medford students.

As a result, our fields will not be available for community use this weekend, including activities such as Medford Youth Football. Our CLC Program is also canceled for this evening, and will resume again on Monday.

Any individuals with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not go into the community, except to seek medical care, for 24 hours after their fever has subsided.

Asymptomatic contacts of ill patients, including contacts of patients with probable or confirmed 2009 H1N1 virus are not restricted in their activities in the community. However, they should assess their own health frequently, and if they become ill, they should immediately be subject to the same restrictions as currently indicated for ill persons.

_________________
www.twitter.com/hniman

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/64185597.html

Flu Outbreak Hits Kettle Moraine Middle School

DOUSMAN - Almost 25 percent of students at Kettle Moraine Middle School stayed home from school on Tuesday with the flu. But the superintendent said they aren't planning on closing the school down.

Seventh grader Sophie Dern was in school on Tuesday... but she felt like one of the only kids there.

"No one's there. We had a class of 28 and 10 people are gone," she explained.

Kettle Moraine Superintendent Pat Deklotz said 22 percent of middle school students called in sick.

"The majority of these illnesses are flu like symptoms," Deklotz said.

Deklotz wants to reassure parents the district is taking precautions to keep kids healthy. They have anti-bacterial in every classroom and the district has "cleaning procedures" in place.

But a lot of parents are still concerned.

"You worry. I actually have a couple high risk kids with asthma so I worry," mom Susan Davies said.

Deklotz wants parents to keep kids home if they're sick, and is asking parents to keep their kids home until their fever is gone for at least 24 hours without the help of a fever reducing medicine.

Sophie got the flu early. She was home sick for five days last week, so she's one of the few kids who aren't worried about getting it anymore.

"I don't think I'll get it again," Sophie said.

The district won't close schools unless the Waukesha County Health Department tells them to. The Health Department said it's their policy not to close schools even if hundreds of students are sick.

Swine flu closes schools, prompts research
By Mark Johnson of the Journal Sentinel
Oct. 15, 2009 1:38 p.m.

More schools in Wisconsin have closed this week due to swine flu, but the good news is that the state has received thousands of doses of the H1N1 vaccine and scientists appear to be learning more each day about the novel virus.

Although the schools in Wisconsin Dells reopened this week, the River Valley Middle School in Spring Green has closed from Tuesday through Friday and the Medford Area School District has dismissed school for the same period. The decision to close River Valley Middle School was made after almost 40% of students were absent. The Medford schools had 19% of students absent and 30% of students at the high school absent. According to state testing, 99% of influenza in Wisconsin at present is the novel H1N1.

Wisconsin received about 147,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine on Friday, then a second shipment of 46,700 doses on Monday and a third shipment of 19,500 doses Tuesday. So far vaccinations have focused on healthcare workers.

This week also brought a new paper showing that patients with severe cases of H1N1 are at risk for developing a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs are blocked.The study of 66 H1N1 patients by University of Michigan researchers was published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (roentgenology is the study and use of X-rays to diagnose and treat disease). Knowing the risk of pulmonary embolism could help doctors when they treat patients with severe swine flu.

Other work published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases adds to the body of evidence suggesting that certain people may have some amount of immunity to H1N1. Scientists at University of California, Davisfound clusters of sites on the virus that are also present in seasonal viruses that have circulated before.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/64409487.html

Fall absences in the Chippewa Falls School District are on par this year compared to the last few years, with the exception of one day three weeks ago.

“We did have three weeks ago, a bit of a spike at the middle school,” Superintendent Tom Hughes told the school board Thursday night.

On average, 6 or 7 percent of students are absent on any given day in the fall. Chippewa Falls Middle School hit the 12 percent mark on one day, but many students returned to school the next school day.

“We were at 12 percent, but it went right back down,” Hughes said.

About 169 were absent from the middle school that Friday, but only about 20 were gone the following Monday, said district nurse Julie Mitchell.

It is unknown if students have had H1N1 flu, commonly known as the swine flu, or another illnesses.

“The public health (department) doesn’t believe it’s all H1N1 based on the symptoms,” Mitchell said.

Student board representative Elliot Rittenberry said several students have been absent at Chippewa Falls High School recently. Football coach Chuck Raykovich has reported his team has been hit by the flu for over a month.

The high school absenteeism peaked at a 5 percent one day recently.

“Our district has been like a roller coaster,” Mitchell said.

For now, the superintendent and school nurse are satisfied with attendance numbers.

“So far, knock on wood, that’s pretty good news,” Hughes said.

Several schools across the state, including Medford in Taylor County, have had to close in recent weeks because of flu-like illnesses.
http://www.chippewa.com/articles/2009/1 ... 755848.txt

_________________
www.twitter.com/hniman