Most flu cases in August were H1N1, Indiana health chief says
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NDIANA – Hoosiers should assume that the H1N1 swine flu virus is everywhere, Indiana's health commissioner conceded this week.
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"We have determined that in August, 98 percent of the influenza cases are H1N1," Dr. Judith Monroe said Wednesday. "Whether you receive a letter from your school or not, my message to parents across Indiana is: This virus is already in your schools and in your community. We are certainly not asking for panic, but we must communicate."
The state, which tallied confirmed H1N1 cases this spring and summer, has stopped keeping an official count. Officials know the virus is so widespread -- about 6,000 in Indiana likely have had H1N1 -- that keeping track of the mild flu strain is not worth the expense, Monroe said.
She also doesn't think schools should send a letter to parents every time they have a confirmed or suspected case. [color=#FF0000][/color]
State health officials will ask schools to consider closing if the flu causes absenteeism to rise above 20 percent or the severity of the virus increases, Monroe said.http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... 1025/rss02