Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
News - Local
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009
Case of swine flu reported at Los Banos school
Staff member in Los Banos has been released to return to work.
By CAROL REITER and DANIELLE GAINES
School officials confirmed Monday that a staff member at R.M. Miano School in Los Banos was sent home after tests confirmed she had swine flu.
But she should be back at work today.
The staff member was tested last week, and her symptoms subsided on Friday, Los Banos Unified School District Superintendent Steve Tietjen said.
While the staffer returned to work Monday, she was sent home after the test results were received. A doctor re-examined the woman and released her to return to work today.
"She has brought a note. She will be released back to work (today)," Tietjen said. "We want to make sure that flu symptoms are not being spread around the school.
"We're confident that she is OK and will not be spreading anything."
A letter to all district parents will be sent today, Tietjen said. Miano is a year-round school and had students on campus during the summer.
No students in the district have demonstrated any symptoms of the disease. If a student does, that student will be referred to school medical staff for an examination. Siblings of possibly infected students will also be examined.
The Merced County Department of Public Health knew nothing of the case of the flu at the B Street school. Richard Rios, program manager for the health department, said swine flu isn't a reportable disease. The department has focused on hospitalizations, deaths and large outbreaks, he added.
"We're making a big effort to stay accurate in what we report," Rios said. "If we heard of an outbreak at a school or other facility, we would certainly work with that facility to contain the outbreak," Rios said. He added that there have been no large outbreaks in the county.
Last week, the county announced that an adult woman who lived in Merced County died of the swine flu on Tuesday. The county wouldn't say where the woman died or provide her age.
In denying the Sun-Star's request for that and additional information, the county issued a statement from counsel James Fincher stating that "information, such as the patient's exact age or the name of the treating hospital could be used, in a community of this size, to identify her as an individual."
In addition, the statement said the county's public health officer said that "disclosure of such information to the Sun-Star would be of no discernible value in dealing with the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic."
Executive editor Mike Tharp said the Sun-Star was consulting with lawyers from its parent company, McClatchy, about the county's refusal to disclose more information to the public about the pandemic disease. "We're also getting help from several First Amendment professors and lawyers in the state so we can show that the county's position is clearly at odds with the public's interest and right to know," Tharp said, "especially about a disease that kills people."
Tietjen was forthcoming with information, citing the district's commitment to public health.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for flu prevention in schools.
The following key guidelines are recommended:
Students and staff should stay home when sick.
Students and staff who show flu-like illnesses should be separated from others until they can be sent home.
Hands should be washed frequently, and students should cover their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing.
School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often.
Encourage those with a high risk for contracting the virus -- those with asthma, diabetes, compromised immune systems, neuromuscular diseases -- to seek early treatment.
Consider dismissing single schools and not entire districts.
"These updated recommendations complement what we have been saying for years," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said in a statement on Aug. 7. "If each of us remains vigilant and takes common sense steps to prevent the spread of flu, then all of us will stay healthy and kids will stay in school ready to learn."
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/1008270.html
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009
Case of swine flu reported at Los Banos school
Staff member in Los Banos has been released to return to work.
By CAROL REITER and DANIELLE GAINES
School officials confirmed Monday that a staff member at R.M. Miano School in Los Banos was sent home after tests confirmed she had swine flu.
But she should be back at work today.
The staff member was tested last week, and her symptoms subsided on Friday, Los Banos Unified School District Superintendent Steve Tietjen said.
While the staffer returned to work Monday, she was sent home after the test results were received. A doctor re-examined the woman and released her to return to work today.
"She has brought a note. She will be released back to work (today)," Tietjen said. "We want to make sure that flu symptoms are not being spread around the school.
"We're confident that she is OK and will not be spreading anything."
A letter to all district parents will be sent today, Tietjen said. Miano is a year-round school and had students on campus during the summer.
No students in the district have demonstrated any symptoms of the disease. If a student does, that student will be referred to school medical staff for an examination. Siblings of possibly infected students will also be examined.
The Merced County Department of Public Health knew nothing of the case of the flu at the B Street school. Richard Rios, program manager for the health department, said swine flu isn't a reportable disease. The department has focused on hospitalizations, deaths and large outbreaks, he added.
"We're making a big effort to stay accurate in what we report," Rios said. "If we heard of an outbreak at a school or other facility, we would certainly work with that facility to contain the outbreak," Rios said. He added that there have been no large outbreaks in the county.
Last week, the county announced that an adult woman who lived in Merced County died of the swine flu on Tuesday. The county wouldn't say where the woman died or provide her age.
In denying the Sun-Star's request for that and additional information, the county issued a statement from counsel James Fincher stating that "information, such as the patient's exact age or the name of the treating hospital could be used, in a community of this size, to identify her as an individual."
In addition, the statement said the county's public health officer said that "disclosure of such information to the Sun-Star would be of no discernible value in dealing with the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic."
Executive editor Mike Tharp said the Sun-Star was consulting with lawyers from its parent company, McClatchy, about the county's refusal to disclose more information to the public about the pandemic disease. "We're also getting help from several First Amendment professors and lawyers in the state so we can show that the county's position is clearly at odds with the public's interest and right to know," Tharp said, "especially about a disease that kills people."
Tietjen was forthcoming with information, citing the district's commitment to public health.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for flu prevention in schools.
The following key guidelines are recommended:
Students and staff should stay home when sick.
Students and staff who show flu-like illnesses should be separated from others until they can be sent home.
Hands should be washed frequently, and students should cover their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing.
School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often.
Encourage those with a high risk for contracting the virus -- those with asthma, diabetes, compromised immune systems, neuromuscular diseases -- to seek early treatment.
Consider dismissing single schools and not entire districts.
"These updated recommendations complement what we have been saying for years," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said in a statement on Aug. 7. "If each of us remains vigilant and takes common sense steps to prevent the spread of flu, then all of us will stay healthy and kids will stay in school ready to learn."
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/1008270.html