Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
SICK SCHOOL: A widespread illness at a Des Moines middle school is keeping many kids at home
WHO Staff Writer
October 2, 2009
Brody Middle School will look a little empty Friday. More than 100 students were out sick on Monday alone and there have been large absences throughout the week.
The Des Moines school district notes that none of the absences involves a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus.
In response to the increase in illness, the school is now spacing desks farther apart and encouraging frequent hand washing. All schools in the Des Moines district now have an isolation room for students who show flu-like symptoms.
The health department says closing the schools would not help prevent the flu from spreading but not all parents agree.
"I think that maybe shutting down the school to disinfect it would be a great idea, because there's a lot of these kids that are carrying this virus right now that don't even know it yet," says parent Theresa Roberts
Rick Kozin with the Polk County Health Department says, "The risk of anybody being exposed simply because somebody might be contagious is not high enough to warrant taking any further actions based on that possibility."
The Polk County Health Department is in daily contact with Des Moines Schools. The department also expects the H1N1 virus to be a concern for at least the next three years.
http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-sick-school100209,0,4240235.story
WHO Staff Writer
October 2, 2009
Brody Middle School will look a little empty Friday. More than 100 students were out sick on Monday alone and there have been large absences throughout the week.
The Des Moines school district notes that none of the absences involves a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus.
In response to the increase in illness, the school is now spacing desks farther apart and encouraging frequent hand washing. All schools in the Des Moines district now have an isolation room for students who show flu-like symptoms.
The health department says closing the schools would not help prevent the flu from spreading but not all parents agree.
"I think that maybe shutting down the school to disinfect it would be a great idea, because there's a lot of these kids that are carrying this virus right now that don't even know it yet," says parent Theresa Roberts
Rick Kozin with the Polk County Health Department says, "The risk of anybody being exposed simply because somebody might be contagious is not high enough to warrant taking any further actions based on that possibility."
The Polk County Health Department is in daily contact with Des Moines Schools. The department also expects the H1N1 virus to be a concern for at least the next three years.
http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-sick-school100209,0,4240235.story