South student hospitalized with flu - IL
October 13th, 2009 · District 58, District 99, Public health
A South High School student has been hospitalized with a confirmed case of H1N1 flu and a second South student with a probable case is being treated at home.
In an email release today, D99 said school districts have been told by the DuPage County Health Department to expect more cases as the flu spreads throughout the county. Both local school districts are monitoring attendance and will consider closing schools if absenteeism spikes.
In the meantime, the schools are observing recommended measures for containing the spread of the virus, including emphasizing hand-washing, cleaning and sanitizing heavily used surfaces, installing hand sanitizers and asking students and staff to remain at home if they have a fever or other flu symptoms.
Now an editorial note: It’s possible to contain the spread of a virus only if everyone cooperates. Please keep your kids at home if they are sick. The school districts can make this task easier if they relax some of the more punitive results of missing school.
Given the potential for this virus to become more serious, it also may be prudent to develop ways for students to continue their studies at home in the event it’s necessary to close the schools for a period of time. Like a lot of parents, I won’t wait for the districts to make that call if I feel H1N1 is a serious threat to our kids’ health.
http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/10/13/south-student-hospitalized-with-flu/
Columbia County Student Dies From Complications Of Swine Flu (Georgia)
http://www2.wjbf.com/jbf/news/state_regional/georgia/article/local_student_dies_from_complications_of_the_flu/30921/
Columbia County, GA—The the last class that Summer Rockfeller was part of was at Euchee Creek Elementary School.
Wanda Golosky, Principal, Euchee Creek Elementary School: “As her teachers and fellow students remember her she, was light-hearted.”
According to the principal, Summer was only enrolled at the school for 14 days in August, before she was admitted to the hospital. Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins tells us she died Saturday at an Atlanta children’s hospital. Collins confirms that Summer had a previous medical condition, not the flu, and that she died because of complications of influenza and pneumonia. Golosky says children at Euchee Creek have nothing to worry about.
Wanda Golosky: “This has been more the six weeks and we’ve got the attendance records that indicate clearly that children did not come in contact with her during the time of contagion.”
This case has some parents asking questions about the H1N1 and seasonal flu…
Dr. Jim Wilde with MCG (Medical College of Georgia) says now that swine flu vaccines are available; children with pre-existing conditions should take advantage.
Dr. Jim Wilde, MCG Health: “Children less than age two, anybody with underlying significant medical problems such as severe asthma, severe lung disease, severe cardiac disease patients with diabetes patients on dialysis and a few others.”
But, Dr. Wilde says the H1N1 vaccine does not protect you from the seasonal flu.
Dr. Jim Wilde: “Seasonal flu strains are not in town, yet. They probably will be by December…January.”
Dr. Wilde says there is a big difference between the two types of H1N1 vaccine.
Dr. Jim Wilde: “The nasal form of the vaccine, it’s actually a live virus. It’s a very much weakened form of the virus, but it’s a live virus. It stimulates your immune system in a couple of different ways. The injectable form of the virus, the shot, is a kill virus you can not get flu from the vaccine thats begin injected but it only stimulates your immune system in one particular way.