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Flu 'everywhere' in city schools
BY SUZANNE PEREZ TOBIAS
The Wichita Eagle 9/30/2009
October just started, but attendance rates at Wichita schools are looking more like they do during the midwinter height of flu season.
"It's everywhere," said Kathy Hubka, coordinator of health services for the Wichita district. "We are seeing more cases of influenza-like illness, more kids home sick."
Sick kids seem to be scattered across the city, Hubka said, not clustered at any particular school. Some schools ? such as Jefferson Elementary, which recorded 70 absences Tuesday and 66 Wednesday ? are noticing larger spikes.
"I've never seen it like this," said Janice Aschenbrenner, principal at Jefferson. "Lots and lots of sick kids."
A high school volleyball match between Wichita Northwest and Bishop Carroll was postponed Tuesday because several Northwest players were sick. The schools also postponed the junior varsity and freshman matches.
"A couple girls came to school Tuesday because they really wanted to play, but I said, 'You look horrible. You need to go home,' " said J. Means, Northwest's athletic director.
"Right now, with the way things are, the last thing you want is to have them here at school, spreading it around."
BY SUZANNE PEREZ TOBIAS
The Wichita Eagle 9/30/2009
October just started, but attendance rates at Wichita schools are looking more like they do during the midwinter height of flu season.
"It's everywhere," said Kathy Hubka, coordinator of health services for the Wichita district. "We are seeing more cases of influenza-like illness, more kids home sick."
Sick kids seem to be scattered across the city, Hubka said, not clustered at any particular school. Some schools ? such as Jefferson Elementary, which recorded 70 absences Tuesday and 66 Wednesday ? are noticing larger spikes.
"I've never seen it like this," said Janice Aschenbrenner, principal at Jefferson. "Lots and lots of sick kids."
A high school volleyball match between Wichita Northwest and Bishop Carroll was postponed Tuesday because several Northwest players were sick. The schools also postponed the junior varsity and freshman matches.
"A couple girls came to school Tuesday because they really wanted to play, but I said, 'You look horrible. You need to go home,' " said J. Means, Northwest's athletic director.
"Right now, with the way things are, the last thing you want is to have them here at school, spreading it around."