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Absences adding up at schools
Published Friday, August 28, 2009
NATCHEZ — On the heels renewed concerns over the H1N1 influenza virus, the Mississippi Department of Health is partnering with public schools across the state to slow the spread of the disease.
Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Anthony Morris contacted the district’s parents by way of e-mail and an automated message system late Thursday to make them aware of the precautions they should be taking to keep their children safe.
Additionally, parents and school principals are being contacted in writing by the department of health and given flu prevention tips.
To date only one case of the H1N1 virus, called swine flu, has been recorded in Adams County.
The lone case was in a female adult. No children in the county have tested positive for the virus, Morris said.
“We just want parents, students and teachers to take precautions,” Morris said. “We want to raise an awareness.”
Morris informed parents today that children with flu-like symptoms should be kept home, sick children will not be allowed back into school until they have been fever free for a minimum of 24 hours and children exhibiting flu-like symptoms at school will be kept away from other students until they can be picked up by a parent or guardian.
And while no local children have been shown to have the H1N1 virus, local administrators are seeing an increase in the number of absent students with flu-like symptoms.
Frazier Primary School Assistant Principal Tony Fields said his school has seen a noticeable spike in absent students.
Fields said Tuesday 40 students were out of class with flu-like symptoms, and the number increased to 48 on Wednesday.
“That’s high,” Fields said. “And that doesn’t include the number of students that left school because they were sick.”
West Primary Principal Cindy Idom said since the start of school she has seen more than 50 absences.
“It seems high for so early in the school year,” she said. “Right now we’re just telling parents to keep their children at home if they’re sick and Cloroxing everything.”
Comments
Posted by crazyworld (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 5:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some early studies out yesterday show up to 30% of people with swine flu may not run a fever, and that it is hitting black and hispanics at a much higher rate than whites. So, if it's flu-like, keep your kids home!!
Posted by mommyagain (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 5:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course the parents will not listen to this advice. They will send the children to school anyway. Good luck getting in touch with them when you call from the school telephone to have them come pick up their child!
Posted by Crakalakin (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kind of funny. By the time a person shows flu symptoms, they likely have already been contagious for a few days.
Short of quarantining everyone at home, good luck trying to stop a flu epidemic with Clorox, unless you are brushing your teeth with it. Flu is airborne.
Posted by iamtheone (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My son had the "flu" last week. I was told at his doctor's office that they no longer test for the H1N1 virus. So, of course, there are no confirmed cases in the schools.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Crazyworld, where did your statistical data/information come from?
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on August 28, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How many children have not started the school year?
Remember, a year or two ago, the superintendent made a statement in this paper that some children do not start the school year until after Labor Day.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on August 28, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2007...
"In other business, the board received a report on attendance numbers for the first two days of school. Overall, 3,619 students attended Wednesday and 3,836 attended Thursday. Superintendent Anthony Morris said those numbers won’t reach their peak until after Labor Day. He said he anticipates an overall enrollment of 4,200"
Posted by Serenyd (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with iamtheone, I don't think they are testing for it, so how would they know? My son had a "virus" a while back, I took him to the dr and they didn't test him for H1N1.
Posted by purecountry (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
my daughter is home with a cough, sniffles, sore throat but no fever. I wasn't taking any chances. I called the school and told them what I did and they were like "VERY GOOD" you did the right thing.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would tell the teachers I was sick and they would send me home. I usually ended up at the pool hall. Things sure are tough in the third grade.
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