A foggy morning at the Elcho School, closed by the flu. |
School break helps with rising flu woes Oct. 28, 2009 A school recess scheduled to allow instructors to attend the state teachers convention couldn’t have come at a better time for local health officials.
Absenteeism rates caused by flu-like symptoms are rising in area public schools, and led to a decision Tuesday to close the Elcho School. But the already-scheduled vacation days could mean fewer unexpected breaks.
“Where these vacation days fell fits in very nicely,” Langlade County Health Department Director Holly Matucheski said. “Hopefully this will provide a nice clear break.”
Elcho school officials, in conjunction with Matucheski, made the decision to close today after absentee rates spiked to near 30 percent.
But the closure only affects 1 1/2 days of school, since Elcho was already scheduled to be closed to students for the state teacher convention Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.
White Lake will also closed for the convention Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. Antigo students in public and parochial schools are on recess today through Friday.
Matucheski said that Langlade County currently has four lab-confirmed cases of H1N1, known commonly as the swine flu, “although there are likely more cases out there that are not recommended to be tested.”
Matucheski said that swine flu vaccine is being administered on a priority basis to health care workers, pregnant women, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those in contact with very young children.
As more vaccine becomes available in the next several weeks, clinics will be held in area schools and then finally for the healthy, adult-age population.
“We’re trying to get the most vulnerable people first,” Matucheski said.
Concerns over flu-like symptoms have strapped area health care facilities along with Langlade Hospital’s walk-in clinic and emergency room.
Matucheski said not everyone who develops symptoms such as fever, cough or a sore throat should rush to a clinic. Instead, she urged “self-isolation” with plenty of rest, hydration and nutrition.
“Most people can recuperate in their homes and do not require medical attention,” she said.
She also repeated advice for staying healthy, including:
—frequent hand-washing.
—covering coughs and sneezes.
—staying home when ill.
—getting vaccinated as soon as they become available.
—disinfecting common surfaces such as remote control devices, desks, telephones, and doorknobs.
—and eating nutritious meals, getting adequate rest and not smoking.
Matucheski said the current wave of swine flu will likely be a concern throughout the winter months, with another jump in cases in spring.
“That’s usually the way pandemics work,” she said.
Those seeking more information on the virus may dial “211.” The call is free and confidential and lines are staffed around-the-clock.
Statewide, the Department of Health Services said today that four more people in the state have died from the swine flu.
Department spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis said the deaths were reported over the last week. There was one in Eau Claire County, two in Milwaukee County and one in Oconto County.
That brings the death total to five since Sept. 1 and 14 altogether including those in the spring. She had no other information on ages, sexes or health background.
The Oconto County Health Department said Tuesday a woman there with underlying health condition died from the complications related to the swine flu.
The department said Tuesday it would tell health care providers to stop conducting mass swine-flu vaccinations starting next week until vaccine supplies increase and only target high-risk groups.
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