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Flu a real issue with area high school football programs
Share | Written by Ken Trahan Thursday, 27 August 2009 02:27PM
Ken Trahan's Blog
NEW ORLEANS - Over the past three days, I have been contacting area high school football coaches about whether or not their teams have been affected (or infected) with flu problems and/or the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the Swine Flu.
While some schools have been fortunate to avoid the flu bug, an alarming number of schools have been radically affected by flu, some at near epidemic proportions.
At Holy Cross High School, the Tigers are enjoying brand new facilities and a re-birth in Gentilly. That enthusiasm has been tempered a bit by an influx of flu symptoms with members of the football team.
"We have had 25 of 63 kids with flu-like symptoms over the past week or two. It has been simply amazing," said Holy Cross Head Coach Barry Wilson. "Of that number, three have been confirmed as testing positive for the Swine Flu." Holy Cross is set to face Mandeville in the Covington Jamboree Friday. Mandeville reports a few players with flu-like symptoms but nothing serious.
At Hahnville, head football coach Lou Valdin's team has had serious problems as well. "We had 18 kids out earlier this week though it was down to 10 by Wednesday afternoon," said Valdin. "It looks like we are improving, anyway."
Slidell High school's football team has bee hit hard, according to Head Coach Artie Liuzza. "We have had up to 20 kids out most recently with flu-like symptoms. We just have to let it run its course and try to prevent anything else," said Liuzza.
Varnado coach Paul Meyerchick says that his team has had as many as ten players affected and that it has hampered the team's preparation for the season. "It hasn't been easy," said Meyerchick.
Franklinton has had up to 20 football players sick in recent days. At Chalmette, Jason Tucker's Owls had dealt with as many as ten players out though most are returning now.
Ellender coach Tawaskie Anderson says that he has at least three of his players affected.
De La Salle coach Corey Bordelon says that he has a few kids out with flu symptoms but that all should be back rather quickly.
Riverdale coach Stuart Bott said that he also has three kids that have been impacted by flu-like symptoms.
Northshore coach Mike Bourg had four players out earlier this week but is not overly concerned.
Salmen has had five or six players who have been impacted. West Jefferson coach Marcus Scott says that he has had three of his players miss time with flu issues.
Rummel coach Jay Roth reports that his program has been missing "five or six players weekly for a few weeks now." Roth also stated that one Raider player was confirmed to have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
At St. James, Rick Gaille says that while there is more illness than usual, there is nothing serious--to this point.
Vandebilt Catholic coach Laury Dupont says that the flu is a problem. "Our quarterback, linebacker and tailback have all tested positive," he said.
At St. Michael in Baton Rouge, Coach Eric Held reports that two of his players have tested positive for the Swine Flu while four others have flu-like symptoms.
Bonnabel Coach Craig Lingle reports two or three minor cases by that most of his players are fine.
St. Augustine Coach David Johnson tells Neworleans.com Sports that he has "one or two sick. We are fumigating everything now, taking every action we can to prevent anything from spreading," said Johnson.
Riverside Head Coach Mickey Roussel says that there is nothing serious with his team but that they are taking "every precaution possible."
McDonogh 35 has had cases of flu for the past couple of weeks. The same is true of Woodlawn of Baton Rouge. Of course, the most radical case is at Central High in Baton Rouge, where published reports have spoken of a major problem with the football team and throughout the school.
Thibodaux coach Dennis Lorio says that his school has had it tough. "We have a problem throughout the school with the flu. Five or six kids have missed time with our football program this week," said Lorio.
Among other schools reporting no real problems are Higgins, Karr, Brother Martin, Shaw, Destrehan, Newman, John Curtis, Belle Chasse, St. Martin's, St. Charles Catholic and Ridgewood.
At Jesuit, Coach Wayde Keiser says that at various times, "anywhere from six to seven players have been stricken with flu-like symptoms. Dr. Jim Tebbe, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Ochsner Kenner and a team doctor for the Jesuit football program says that while the flu outbreak must be taken seriously that the publicity surrounding the H1NI scare is a bit much.
"I think a lot of this is possibly over-hyped. It probably is H1N1 that many of the kids have but we don't treat it any differently. We're not even testing out patients anymore. We're just treating it as Influenza A. For most, it really doesn't matter what strain it is, we will still treat it with Tamiflu or Relenza. I see a lot of patients being treated who, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines, should not be treated. For some reason, we've seen a huge summer spike. It seems to have an affinity for young people. It's not even flu season yet--that would typically be strongest in January for us," said Dr. Tebbe.
As an example of schools taking precautions and voicing their concerns to parents and students is a letter sent from Rummel Principal Tommy Moran.
For more information on the H1NI virus, go to www.cdc.gov.
Share | Written by Ken Trahan Thursday, 27 August 2009 02:27PM
Ken Trahan's Blog
NEW ORLEANS - Over the past three days, I have been contacting area high school football coaches about whether or not their teams have been affected (or infected) with flu problems and/or the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the Swine Flu.
While some schools have been fortunate to avoid the flu bug, an alarming number of schools have been radically affected by flu, some at near epidemic proportions.
At Holy Cross High School, the Tigers are enjoying brand new facilities and a re-birth in Gentilly. That enthusiasm has been tempered a bit by an influx of flu symptoms with members of the football team.
"We have had 25 of 63 kids with flu-like symptoms over the past week or two. It has been simply amazing," said Holy Cross Head Coach Barry Wilson. "Of that number, three have been confirmed as testing positive for the Swine Flu." Holy Cross is set to face Mandeville in the Covington Jamboree Friday. Mandeville reports a few players with flu-like symptoms but nothing serious.
At Hahnville, head football coach Lou Valdin's team has had serious problems as well. "We had 18 kids out earlier this week though it was down to 10 by Wednesday afternoon," said Valdin. "It looks like we are improving, anyway."
Slidell High school's football team has bee hit hard, according to Head Coach Artie Liuzza. "We have had up to 20 kids out most recently with flu-like symptoms. We just have to let it run its course and try to prevent anything else," said Liuzza.
Varnado coach Paul Meyerchick says that his team has had as many as ten players affected and that it has hampered the team's preparation for the season. "It hasn't been easy," said Meyerchick.
Franklinton has had up to 20 football players sick in recent days. At Chalmette, Jason Tucker's Owls had dealt with as many as ten players out though most are returning now.
Ellender coach Tawaskie Anderson says that he has at least three of his players affected.
De La Salle coach Corey Bordelon says that he has a few kids out with flu symptoms but that all should be back rather quickly.
Riverdale coach Stuart Bott said that he also has three kids that have been impacted by flu-like symptoms.
Northshore coach Mike Bourg had four players out earlier this week but is not overly concerned.
Salmen has had five or six players who have been impacted. West Jefferson coach Marcus Scott says that he has had three of his players miss time with flu issues.
Rummel coach Jay Roth reports that his program has been missing "five or six players weekly for a few weeks now." Roth also stated that one Raider player was confirmed to have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
At St. James, Rick Gaille says that while there is more illness than usual, there is nothing serious--to this point.
Vandebilt Catholic coach Laury Dupont says that the flu is a problem. "Our quarterback, linebacker and tailback have all tested positive," he said.
At St. Michael in Baton Rouge, Coach Eric Held reports that two of his players have tested positive for the Swine Flu while four others have flu-like symptoms.
Bonnabel Coach Craig Lingle reports two or three minor cases by that most of his players are fine.
St. Augustine Coach David Johnson tells Neworleans.com Sports that he has "one or two sick. We are fumigating everything now, taking every action we can to prevent anything from spreading," said Johnson.
Riverside Head Coach Mickey Roussel says that there is nothing serious with his team but that they are taking "every precaution possible."
McDonogh 35 has had cases of flu for the past couple of weeks. The same is true of Woodlawn of Baton Rouge. Of course, the most radical case is at Central High in Baton Rouge, where published reports have spoken of a major problem with the football team and throughout the school.
Thibodaux coach Dennis Lorio says that his school has had it tough. "We have a problem throughout the school with the flu. Five or six kids have missed time with our football program this week," said Lorio.
Among other schools reporting no real problems are Higgins, Karr, Brother Martin, Shaw, Destrehan, Newman, John Curtis, Belle Chasse, St. Martin's, St. Charles Catholic and Ridgewood.
At Jesuit, Coach Wayde Keiser says that at various times, "anywhere from six to seven players have been stricken with flu-like symptoms. Dr. Jim Tebbe, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Ochsner Kenner and a team doctor for the Jesuit football program says that while the flu outbreak must be taken seriously that the publicity surrounding the H1NI scare is a bit much.
"I think a lot of this is possibly over-hyped. It probably is H1N1 that many of the kids have but we don't treat it any differently. We're not even testing out patients anymore. We're just treating it as Influenza A. For most, it really doesn't matter what strain it is, we will still treat it with Tamiflu or Relenza. I see a lot of patients being treated who, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines, should not be treated. For some reason, we've seen a huge summer spike. It seems to have an affinity for young people. It's not even flu season yet--that would typically be strongest in January for us," said Dr. Tebbe.
As an example of schools taking precautions and voicing their concerns to parents and students is a letter sent from Rummel Principal Tommy Moran.
For more information on the H1NI virus, go to www.cdc.gov.
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