Possible Swine Flu Outbreak At NYC Prep School (Pandemic Fear)

SEE BS ^ | 4/24/09

[Crazieman]

Department Of Health Officials Testing 75 Students At St. Francis Preparatory School In Queens

New York City health officials say that about 75 students at a Queens high school have fallen ill with flu-like symptoms and testing is under way to rule out the strain of swine flu that has killed dozens in Mexico.

The Health Department's Dr. Don Weiss said Friday that a team of agency doctors and investigators were dispatched to the private St. Francis Preparatory School the previous day after students reported fever, sore throat, cough, aches and pains. No one has been hospitalized.

The handful of sick students who remained at the school were tested for a variety of flu strains. If they're found to have a known human strain that would rule out swine flu.

Results could take several days. In the meantime, the school says it's postponing an evening event and sanitizing the building over the weekend.

Mexican authorities said 60 people may have died from a swine flu virus in Mexico, and world health officials worry it could unleash a global flu epidemic.

[fatima]

Are you kidding me?

[justsaynomore]

Hundreds of Students at Queens School Come Down with Flu

April 24, 2009

QUEENS, N.Y. (WPIX) - “The Health Department is monitoring an outbreak of flu at St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, Queens, to see if the students may have come down with the swine flu virus. As many as 500 students have reported they were suffering from flu-like symptoms. Some of the students told WPIX they recently visited Mexico. The flu outbreak forced school officials to cancel an event called “International Night,” which was scheduled for Friday night. A thousand people had been expecting to attend.”

http://www.wpix.com/landing/?Hundreds-of-Students-at-Queens-School-Co=1&blockID=275362&feedID=1404

[presently no screen name]

Oh no! My cousin’s daughter goes to that school. Gotta get the scope.

[presently no screen name]

Some of the students told WPIX they recently visited Mexico.

You're right!

[jiggyboy]

I was dubious at 75 and could have been talked out of it, but 500 out of 2700 (per the first couple of google results for “St. Francis Preparatory School”) in three days is straight out of a science fiction movie. Without rancor, I’m gonna stick with my own harmless opinion that it’s not swine flu and not even “regular” flu.

[jiggyboy]

WHAAAT? Looks like they changed the article from 500 to 300 since you posted that excerpt!

[fatima]

Well they are testing the students as we type.(((((Hugs)))))

[PghBaldy]

I hope you are right.

[fatima]

I thought I read 4 Million.

[fatima]

(((((Hugs)))))

[Roccus]

St. Francis Prep, though quite large, is just a plain, ordinary Catholic High school, like many others in NYC. It’s not one of those fancy boarding type schools.

[jiggyboy]

Much obliged. I really did have a mental picture of a 90210-type place.

I read something on WABC that said tests are already coming back negative for swine flu, and they should have all the results on Saturday.

[fatima]

Thank God.

[Roccus]

For my parents and those of many friends, the Catholic high schools in NYC were a way of getting their kids a decent education. Though there were some fine public high schools in the city at that time (late 50’s), the big difference was DISCIPLINE!!!

[justsaynomore]

Yeah, I noticed that too - weird!

[Don Corleone]

“Open Borders”.The gift that keeps on giving!!!

[presently no screen name]

You keep giving, it’s time you received ((((HUGS)))).

[fatima]

Update .((((((Hugs))))))

[Obamageddon]

You've gotta love those open borders!

[presently no screen name]

LOL! Your (((Hugs))) brought me a smile! :)