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WVNS-TV, Beckley-Bluefield
is carrying FluTracker at Swine Flu Center

http://www.wvnstv.com/story.cfm?func=sh ... 336&view=1

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More info relating to the previous posts regarding a death. Another child...

HUNTINGTON -- The director of communications for Cabell County Schools confirmed just before 1 a.m. Sunday that a Cabell Midland High School died, possibly from complications related to the H1N1 flu virus.

Jedd Flowers said in an e-mail that, "We understand that a Cabell Midland student passed away and while it is strongly suspected, (Cabell-Huntington Health Department Director) Dr. (Harry) Tweel says more testing is being done to determine for sure if it is swine flu."

Flowers said the health department has been asked by the parents not to release any identification information at this time. The school system is honoring the same request.

Superintendent William Smith said Cabell Midland principal David Tackett told him the student was not in school on Thursday or Friday.

"We will have counselors on hand at the school Monday," Flowers said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family."

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/breaking ... ay-be-H1N1

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/6345 ... tion=story
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Family members tell WSAZ.com that the Cabell Midland High School student who died from Swine Flu is 14-year-old Patrick Wheeler.

The Cabell-Huntington Health Department says they are working closely with the Cabell County School System in regard to school closings. At this time, all schools remain open and on a regular schedule



Counselors will be at Cabell Midland tomorrow to assist students and staff members coping with this sudden loss.

http://www.wvnstv.com/story.cfm?func=vi ... ryid=67941

Swine Flu Confirmed in Mercer County Schools
Posted Monday, October 5, 2009 ; 05:13 PM | View Comments | Post Comment



County Health Department says there are at least 5 cases.

PRINCETON -- Mercer County Health Department officials say at least 5 children in the county have confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus.
Health Department Administrator, Melody Rickman says there are more than 200 children in the school system with seasonal flu.

Rickman says prevention is key. She advises children and adults to wash their hands frequently.

She says it is also important for anyone with flu-like symptoms to seek medical care and to avoid contact with others.

Rickman says the H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in Mercer County in a couple of weeks.

The first doses were released in the country today. Those first vaccines are going to health care workers.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/63566402.html


CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Dr. Cathy Slemp, the state health officer in West Virginia, addressed people's concerns Monday about the H1N1/swine flu spreading throughout our region.

Slemp wanted to reassure parents and everyone else that swine flu does not have to be so scary. During the news conference, she said that the number of cases of swine flu are rising, but are not even close to the levels of what the state sees during the regular flu season.



She also said schools all over the state are following health department guidelines. As a mother herself, Slemp said she can understand feeling anxious. but it's important to keep things in perspective.

"I can share with you that my kids are in school in Cabell County today, and I'd expect they will be tomorrow, as well, because I know that the local health department and the school is working closely together to monitor situations to take the right measure to prevent disease and follow through with what needs to happen to keep our kids safe," she said.

Slemp also said health officials are no longer keeping track of individual cases of swine flu. Instead, they are tracking cases of flu like symptoms.

Slemp encouraged hand washing and covering one's mouth to protect from getting illnesses, including swine flu.

http://www.wtap.com/home/headlines/63561502.html

There are 63 cases of swine flu in Jackson County and the majority of those cases are students.

Wendy Crawford with the Jackson County Health Department said that there are 34 confirmed H1N1 cases in Ripley High School.

Superintendent Blaine Hess confirmed that 200 of the students at the high school were out sick Monday. 1,005 students attend Ripley High School.

Ripley Middle School has 10 confirmed cases and 140 students were absent from the school on Monday. 760 students attend Ripley Middle School.

The health department and the Jackson County Board of Education are working closely together to contain the situation.

The Wood County Board of Education said they are monitoring the H1N1 in their schools.

"As a matter of fact we have been notified of an H1N1 case in Wood County schools and some Type A Influenza. So we are keeping an eye on this...the health department and the superintendent and I will be meeting weekly to continue to monitor this situation, " said Teresa Bayer, the Coordinator of Health Services for Wood County Schools.

Bayer said that after the H1N1 vaccine is made available they will be offering it to their students of Wood County Elementary Schools as soon as October 26th.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/63690872.html

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Ashton Elementary in Mason County is closing through Monday, October 12 due to the flu.

Mason County Superintendent, Dr. William Capehart says "once the percentage of the total student body reporting out due to influenza like illnesses reaches 25%, officials from the school district and the Mason County Health Department confer and determine if the school needs to be closed for a period of five days. Today (Wednesday), the determination was made for Ashton elementary."



Capehart says both school and health department officials will continue to monitor all school sand take appropriated action when warranted.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- About a dozen parents and a handful of students spent part of Wednesday picketing outside the Cabell County School Board office in Huntington.

They say the school system’s leadership isn’t doing enough to keep their kids safe during the swine flu outbreak.



The group believes the school system is putting money ahead of the health of students, and they want to see the schools close until everyone is vaccinated.

They say they hope to have more protests until their demands are satisfied.

A 14-year-old Cabell Midland High School student died Saturday of the swine flu.

Schools in Cabell County were closed Wednesday for a planned Instructional Support and Enhancement Day.

Superintendent Bill Smith has sent a phone message to all parents explaining why schools won't be closed.

Smith says schools will be sanitized Wednesday morning since kids will be out of class.

A number of parents also attended Tuesday's school board meeting to protest the schools staying open.

UPDATE: Washington County, MOV Health Departments Out of Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Wednesday people lined up to get the last 162 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine from the Washington County Health Department.

"This year we ordered 3000 doses of vaccine for seasonal flu which is about what we have ordered for the past five years," said Dr. Kathleen Meckstroth, the Washington County Health Commissioner.

Typically the doses have lasted longer and sometimes the department has had doses left over. "But this year we started earlier in giving flu shots and apparently more people are aware of the need for seasonal vaccine as well as the H1N1 coming up," said Dr. Meckstroth.

Wednesday both the Washington County and Mid-Ohio Valley Health Departments were out of the seasonal flu vaccine.

"We suggest that people go ahead and contact their physician to see if their physician's office has the vaccine or that they contact one of the local pharmacies because we do know that some of the local pharmacies have the vaccine available."

According to the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department the manufacturer of their orders is running behind on shipping the seasonal flu vaccine. The MOV Health Department is expecting to get more doses in next week.

The Washington County Health Department does not expect to have this same problem with the H1N1 vaccine based on the amount of doses they have ordered but Dr. Meckstroth said they don't know how many doses will actually be shipped to them.

The drive-thru seasonal flu clinics scheduled in Belpre Thursday and in Marietta Monday have been cancelled.
http://www.wtap.com/home/headlines/63674932.html