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Source: http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/10/23/news/shoreline/a1_--_swine.txt
Swine flu outbreak hits Guilford
Published: Friday, October 23, 2009
By Susan Misur, Register Staff
GUILFORD ? The H1N1 flu virus is raging through Guilford High School this week, causing more than 300 of the school?s 1,115 students to be absent Thursday and administrators to cancel afterschool activities.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Forcella said Thursday about 29 percent of students stayed home with the swine flu this week, far surpassing regular absentee numbers of 2 to 3 percent.
?It?s safe to say the majority of absentees have H1N1. People are going to their doctors, and their doctors are saying, ?Yeah, it?s H1N1 because it?s the only flu going around,? but they?re not sending stuff out to state labs,? said Forcella, adding that it?s too early for the regular flu virus to be spreading.
Town Health Director Dennis Johnson said some students did test positive for the flu, though not all were tested.
All schools were expected to remain in session today.
But before- and after-school activities at all Guilford schools are canceled through Saturday, including club meetings, practices, sporting events (middle school, freshmen, junior varsity and varsity games and meets), rehearsals and pasta parties. Before- and after-school daycare programs will continue normal schedules in all schools, Forcella told parents in an e-mail alert sent out Thursday afternoon.
Some Guilford High runners did compete in Thursday?s Southern Connecticut Conference championship meet at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison.
?Those kids that are healthy enough to be here are here,? said Athletic Director Chip Dorwin. ?We talked about it and didn?t want to pull them out.?
No schools in the state have closed for the swine flu yet this school year, according to Department of Education spokesman Thomas Murphy.
?This seems to be the first and most extensive case we?ve seen thus far this year. Our understanding is the younger population is even more susceptible, but they (high schoolers) certainly fall within the 1- to 24-year-old target group,? Murphy said Thursday.
He said Brooklyn Elementary School in Brooklyn, Conn., is the only other school to report elevated absences because of swine flu-like symptoms.
The virus seemed to start spreading at Guilford High after last weekend?s homecoming dance attended by more than 600 students, Forcella said. Because absentees were only about 3 percent Friday, the dance went on as planned.
No other Guilford school has seen a similar jump in absences, though they are slightly up for this time of year, Forcella said.
All district parents received a memo from Forcella Wednesday alerting them of the elevated number of absences at the high school and what the town is doing to prevent the virus from spreading to more students.
Forcella wrote to parents that the Madison and Guilford health departments, along with the East Shore Health District, which covers Branford, Guilford, North Branford and East Haven, are working together planning flu clinics in each town. No dates will be set until officials know the date and quantity of vaccines being delivered.
Custodians at each school are ?spending significant time? each day wiping down common areas students touch, such as door knobs, railings and computer stations. Forcella also said there have been low numbers of absences among faculty and staff.
Johnson said students should stay home if they show any symptoms of the H1N1 virus, including a fever of between 100 and 102 degrees, a scratchy, sore throat, aches and pains, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea, though fevers are present in only about 60 percent of H1N1 patients. The swine flu also lasts only a few days depending on its severity, while the seasonal flu typically lasts five to seven days, he said.
The district will be evaluating the situation on a day-by-day basis to determine what, if any, activities will be canceled next week, Johnson said.
Dorwin said very limited Sunday practices are planned for varsity sports, which have games scheduled for Monday.
?We?re going to be playing a lot of games next week,? he said, noting it was the last week of the regular season in most sports. ?We?re going to do the best we can to fulfill our commitments, especially at the varsity level. Some varsity games probably won?t be played, but we?ll try if we can.?
As for the cross country runners, Guilford boys? coach Jon Faitsch said top runner Kevin Maguire and No. 5 runner Rusty Geary both missed the meet with illness. Xavier of Middletown won the boys? meet.
The Cheshire girls snapped Guilford?s streak of five straight SCC titles on Thursday. Guilford girls? coach Jim Ford said, ?We ran everybody even if they were sick.?
Register sports reporter Chris Hunn contributed to this story. Susan Misur can be reached at 789-5742 or smisur@nhregister.com.
Swine flu outbreak hits Guilford
Published: Friday, October 23, 2009
By Susan Misur, Register Staff
GUILFORD ? The H1N1 flu virus is raging through Guilford High School this week, causing more than 300 of the school?s 1,115 students to be absent Thursday and administrators to cancel afterschool activities.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Forcella said Thursday about 29 percent of students stayed home with the swine flu this week, far surpassing regular absentee numbers of 2 to 3 percent.
?It?s safe to say the majority of absentees have H1N1. People are going to their doctors, and their doctors are saying, ?Yeah, it?s H1N1 because it?s the only flu going around,? but they?re not sending stuff out to state labs,? said Forcella, adding that it?s too early for the regular flu virus to be spreading.
Town Health Director Dennis Johnson said some students did test positive for the flu, though not all were tested.
All schools were expected to remain in session today.
But before- and after-school activities at all Guilford schools are canceled through Saturday, including club meetings, practices, sporting events (middle school, freshmen, junior varsity and varsity games and meets), rehearsals and pasta parties. Before- and after-school daycare programs will continue normal schedules in all schools, Forcella told parents in an e-mail alert sent out Thursday afternoon.
Some Guilford High runners did compete in Thursday?s Southern Connecticut Conference championship meet at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison.
?Those kids that are healthy enough to be here are here,? said Athletic Director Chip Dorwin. ?We talked about it and didn?t want to pull them out.?
No schools in the state have closed for the swine flu yet this school year, according to Department of Education spokesman Thomas Murphy.
?This seems to be the first and most extensive case we?ve seen thus far this year. Our understanding is the younger population is even more susceptible, but they (high schoolers) certainly fall within the 1- to 24-year-old target group,? Murphy said Thursday.
He said Brooklyn Elementary School in Brooklyn, Conn., is the only other school to report elevated absences because of swine flu-like symptoms.
The virus seemed to start spreading at Guilford High after last weekend?s homecoming dance attended by more than 600 students, Forcella said. Because absentees were only about 3 percent Friday, the dance went on as planned.
No other Guilford school has seen a similar jump in absences, though they are slightly up for this time of year, Forcella said.
All district parents received a memo from Forcella Wednesday alerting them of the elevated number of absences at the high school and what the town is doing to prevent the virus from spreading to more students.
Forcella wrote to parents that the Madison and Guilford health departments, along with the East Shore Health District, which covers Branford, Guilford, North Branford and East Haven, are working together planning flu clinics in each town. No dates will be set until officials know the date and quantity of vaccines being delivered.
Custodians at each school are ?spending significant time? each day wiping down common areas students touch, such as door knobs, railings and computer stations. Forcella also said there have been low numbers of absences among faculty and staff.
Johnson said students should stay home if they show any symptoms of the H1N1 virus, including a fever of between 100 and 102 degrees, a scratchy, sore throat, aches and pains, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea, though fevers are present in only about 60 percent of H1N1 patients. The swine flu also lasts only a few days depending on its severity, while the seasonal flu typically lasts five to seven days, he said.
The district will be evaluating the situation on a day-by-day basis to determine what, if any, activities will be canceled next week, Johnson said.
Dorwin said very limited Sunday practices are planned for varsity sports, which have games scheduled for Monday.
?We?re going to be playing a lot of games next week,? he said, noting it was the last week of the regular season in most sports. ?We?re going to do the best we can to fulfill our commitments, especially at the varsity level. Some varsity games probably won?t be played, but we?ll try if we can.?
As for the cross country runners, Guilford boys? coach Jon Faitsch said top runner Kevin Maguire and No. 5 runner Rusty Geary both missed the meet with illness. Xavier of Middletown won the boys? meet.
The Cheshire girls snapped Guilford?s streak of five straight SCC titles on Thursday. Guilford girls? coach Jim Ford said, ?We ran everybody even if they were sick.?
Register sports reporter Chris Hunn contributed to this story. Susan Misur can be reached at 789-5742 or smisur@nhregister.com.