Tweet
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Web Posted: 01/30/2009 3:00 CST Suspected flu outbreak shuts down TMI for the week
By Don Finley - Express-News
Despite a moderate flu season that health officials think has reached its peak in severity, one private school hard hit with one in five students out sick has temporarily closed its doors.
TMI -- The Episcopal School of Texas, long known as the Texas Military Institute -- cancelled classes Friday because of a suspected flu outbreak that swept through the 800-student campus. The school plans to reopen Monday.
“I think it’s an isolated incident that occurred,” said Roger Sanchez, an epidemiologist with the Metropolitan Health District, who praised the school for its handling of the outbreak. “And I’ve seen that in previous years, where a specific school has a very high absenteeism with influenza-like illness and it goes away, and the other schools do not.”
School officials think the wave of flu might be tied to the school’s 115th annual Military Ball held Saturday night.
“We think some students may have (become ill) that Thursday or Friday, but they were so determined to go to the ball,” said TMI spokeswoman Cindy Schneid. “They went, and everyone kind of spread that around. Wednesday we were noticing an uptick in absenteeism.”
Absentee rates are about normal for this time of year at other school districts throughout the city, averaging 6 to 8 percent, health officials said.
“We’re sending a few more kids every day because of flu-like symptoms,” said Shirley Schreiber, director of health services at Northside Independent School District, adding the absentee rate is normal for this point in the flu season. “We’re getting geared for it, because this is typically the time of year that we do see flu.”
Children seem to be bearing the brunt of the illness, said Dr. David Gude, chief operating officer of the Texas MedClinics in San Antonio and New Braunfels.
“We started seeing an uptick (in cases) about three weeks ago,” Gude said. “My impression is it’s mostly children at this point.”
At the beginning of this year’s flu season, local health officials were concerned because two strains were circulating locally in almost equal numbers. This year’s flu vaccine was largely ineffective to one of those, a B strain.
Since then, the vast majority of flu cases have been the other strain, part of a family of viruses known as A/H1N1. While the vaccine protects against that flu strain, it is resistant to Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used to lessen the symptoms of those who do become sick with flu.
Health officials have recommended doctors use another antiviral drug, Relenza. But Relenza was in short supply for a while, Gude and others said. The drug is delivered through an inhaler similar to those used by asthmatics, while Tamiflu is taken orally. “I think part of the problem — not to point any fingers — is we haven’t been using Relenza,” Gude said. “So I don’t think pharmacies have been stocking it.”
Mike Enloe, a pharmacist at Oakdell Pharmacy, said that at least one large wholesale distributor serving San Antonio has plenty of Relenza available for order.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--Article End--><!--Bibliography Goes Here-->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc>
</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!--Bibliography End--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=font-cn></TD></TR><TR><TD class=font-cn>Find this article at:
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
By Don Finley - Express-News
Despite a moderate flu season that health officials think has reached its peak in severity, one private school hard hit with one in five students out sick has temporarily closed its doors.
TMI -- The Episcopal School of Texas, long known as the Texas Military Institute -- cancelled classes Friday because of a suspected flu outbreak that swept through the 800-student campus. The school plans to reopen Monday.
“I think it’s an isolated incident that occurred,” said Roger Sanchez, an epidemiologist with the Metropolitan Health District, who praised the school for its handling of the outbreak. “And I’ve seen that in previous years, where a specific school has a very high absenteeism with influenza-like illness and it goes away, and the other schools do not.”
School officials think the wave of flu might be tied to the school’s 115th annual Military Ball held Saturday night.
“We think some students may have (become ill) that Thursday or Friday, but they were so determined to go to the ball,” said TMI spokeswoman Cindy Schneid. “They went, and everyone kind of spread that around. Wednesday we were noticing an uptick in absenteeism.”
Absentee rates are about normal for this time of year at other school districts throughout the city, averaging 6 to 8 percent, health officials said.
“We’re sending a few more kids every day because of flu-like symptoms,” said Shirley Schreiber, director of health services at Northside Independent School District, adding the absentee rate is normal for this point in the flu season. “We’re getting geared for it, because this is typically the time of year that we do see flu.”
Children seem to be bearing the brunt of the illness, said Dr. David Gude, chief operating officer of the Texas MedClinics in San Antonio and New Braunfels.
“We started seeing an uptick (in cases) about three weeks ago,” Gude said. “My impression is it’s mostly children at this point.”
At the beginning of this year’s flu season, local health officials were concerned because two strains were circulating locally in almost equal numbers. This year’s flu vaccine was largely ineffective to one of those, a B strain.
Since then, the vast majority of flu cases have been the other strain, part of a family of viruses known as A/H1N1. While the vaccine protects against that flu strain, it is resistant to Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used to lessen the symptoms of those who do become sick with flu.
Health officials have recommended doctors use another antiviral drug, Relenza. But Relenza was in short supply for a while, Gude and others said. The drug is delivered through an inhaler similar to those used by asthmatics, while Tamiflu is taken orally. “I think part of the problem — not to point any fingers — is we haven’t been using Relenza,” Gude said. “So I don’t think pharmacies have been stocking it.”
Mike Enloe, a pharmacist at Oakdell Pharmacy, said that at least one large wholesale distributor serving San Antonio has plenty of Relenza available for order.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--Article End--><!--Bibliography Goes Here-->
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc>
</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--Bibliography End--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=font-cn></TD></TR><TR><TD class=font-cn>Find this article at:
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Comment