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Indiana:

Influenza A cases rise as area schools fight back

Tuesday, 13 October 2009
By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
http://www.thepilotnews.com/content/view/131772/27/

PLYMOUTH — Flu-re-lated illnesses are higher than expected for this time of year — according to the Center For Disease Control — and school officials in the area remain wary of the H1N1 virus with a rash of cases that could be attributed to the illness.

Last week cases of “Influenza A” were confirmed around the area, along with the death of a junior high student in South Bend due to “flu-like symptoms.” It started all schools preparing to help students beat the virus.

One mother and son — Donna Babcock and son Isaac, a student at Riverside Intermediate in Plymouth — are going to be together for at least the next week. Isaac’s doctor in Valparaiso confirmed that he has the Influenza A strain and told his mother to keep him home for seven to 14 days.

“He came home Thurs-day and was running a fever of about 103.6 and feeling very tired,” said Babcock. “I couldn’t get his fever down. I was up with him all night. They had us take him straight to the hospital (in Valparaiso), they gave him a throat and nose swab and a blood test. The nurse told me that he has influenza A and it’s 99.9 percent certain that he has H1N1.”

Thankfully Isaac is doing better but he still looks to be out of commission for a while longer.

“I’m trying to keep Pedialyte and Gatorade in him but like any kid he’s begging for Sierra Mist,” said Donna. “I just want parents to know this is out there so they can watch out for it.”

Plymouth Schools have been watching for it encouraging proper sneezing and coughing protocols — in the sleeve and not the hand — using of hand sanitizer and staying away from school if you are exhibiting flu symptoms. Attendance offices in the school corporation continued to gather information about symptoms from those calling in sick.

“Actually absenteeism has dropped — except for Riverside — where it’s gone up from last week,” said Plymouth School Superintendent Dan Tyree. “We’re washing everything thing down as much as we can, making sure surfaces and classrooms are disinfected every night as much as possible.”

Representatives of the Marshall County Health Department were unavailable for comment before press time. Last week, Administrator Wes Burden said that he would be able to order the much-anticipated vaccine for H1N1 last Friday. He said the CDC and Indiana Department of Health were unclear as to exactly when the first vaccine would be available in Marshall County.

Burden said his department would target schools, and pre-schools in the first wave of distribution.

“We’re going to do the best we can and hopefully we’ll have some vaccine soon,” said Tyree.