Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.blueridgenow.com/article...1042?Title=Swine-flu-confirmed-at-Camp-Judaea
Swine flu confirmed at Camp Judaea (and probable at Camp Ton-A-Wandah)
MIKE DIRKS/ TIMES-NEWS
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The Henderson County Department of Public Health confirmed that three camp counselors from Camp Judaea have swine flu.
From staff reports
Published: Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 1:20 p.m.
Three camp counselors from Camp Judaea have swine flu and campers at Camp Ton-A-Wandah are being counted as probable cases, according to the health department. Health officials say sick counselors and campers are being treated and cared for at the camps and that parents of campers at the two camps have now been notified. No campers have been hospitalized.
The health department identified the two camps with confirmed and probable cases today. Some parents have expressed concern and want to know the names of the camps with swine flu.
?We certainly understand this concern but HIPAA privacy regulations are very involved and are designed to protect the privacy of the individual patient, said Tom Bridges, health department director. ?Public health takes that responsibility very seriously and always tries to do the right thing, both legally and morally, when it comes to protecting the individuals that make up the public in public health. There is some disagreement about whether releasing the names of the camps is permissible, as it is possible, some argue, that such information may potentially compromise the privacy of those involved.?
Health officials are working closely with the camps to reduce the spread of the infection to others.
?The camps have done an excellent job of screening their campers and quickly isolating those with symptoms of influenza like illness. The health department is also communicating frequently with local healthcare providers and the Urgent Care staff to provide the latest CDC and North Carolina guidelines for treatment and prevention of the flu,? stated Linda Weldon, RN, communicable disease supervisor.
Henderson County has 22 camps and campers come from all over the country and even outside of the United States. While the camps have been proactive in identifying children with symptoms and acting quickly to isolate them and give medical attention, parents need to check their children before sending them to camp.
?Before leaving home or putting your child on an airplane bound for camp, parents need to make sure children are well,? said Weldon.
She encouraged parents to contact the camp if they have concerns about sending their child to camp.
According to Weldon, swine flu is in the community.
?It?s important for people to know that H1N1 is everywhere, as indicated by the World Health Organization raising its alert level to six. Because it is everywhere that means anyone can catch the flu anywhere. That?s why the most important message here is that people everywhere, whether at camp, home, or work, follow the precautions to prevent illness.?
Taking all precautions
When the staff members became sick at the beginning of the session they were tested for the virus immediately, said Sandra Bass, Camp Judaea director.
Camp officials contacted its referring physician and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and followed their recommendations.
The recommendations included isolating the staff members for seven days, taking the temperatures and providing prophylactic treatment for the remaining staff, camper who had permission from their parents and instituting increased hand-washing measures and hygiene measure.
No one else at the camp has exhibited symptoms of the swine flu as of Thursday afternoon and all camper families have been notified. The staff members will stay isolated for seven days.
?Our staff members had mild symptoms and they are doing well,? Bass said. ?Camp is continuing as usual, as we pay special attention to monitoring campers and staff and ensuring preventative hygiene measures are taken.?
Flu symptoms but no swine flu at Ton-A-Wandah
Camp Ton-A-Wandah has said that they have five campers with confirmed cases of influenza, not swine flu.
?We have taken necessary precautions to isolate these campers from the general camp population and are working with the local health department, pediatricians, the American Camp Association set forth by the Centers for Disease Control pertaining to summer camps to control and prevent the spread of influenza and offer protection for unaffected campers and camp staff,? camp official Garrett Graham said in a press release.
The majority of the camp is healthy and well, said Graham.
Families that have campers enrolled in the current session have been notified of the illness and are aware of the actions camp personnel have taken.
?We believe that taking a proactive approach and being prepared for this situation is the best practice to serve our campers and our camp families,? the press release stated.
?We are fortunate that the cases of influenza have all been mild with quick recovery time and everyone is in good spirits,? it added.
Camp Ton-A-Wandah released the information earlier this afternoon before the health department sent out a press release revealing the names of the camps with cases of influenza and the swine flu.
Camps' reactions
The Times-News contacted 21 area camps earlier in the day. Of those contacted, 12 reported there were no swine flu cases and nine were unavailable for comment.
?I wish I did know who it was,? said Ann Brice, director of Camp Joy. ?There are so many camps in this area. I don?t know which one it might be.?
Area camps are taking precautionary measures by advising that children with flu-like symptoms to stay home.
?They basically need to wait to come to camp until they are symptom-free,? said Jim Miller, owner of Camp Greystone.
Flu symptoms include cough, sore throat and fever greater than 100.
Several camps said they plan to conduct health screenings as they open for the season or rotate camper sessions.
?We?re happy to have little Susie Q and Joey,? said Nancy Z. Wilson, director of Camp Wayfarer, ?but we need to make sure they?re healthy.?
Parents outraged
"We can't tell you until we get more facts," Henderson County Health Director Tom Bridges said this morning in a telephone interview from Raleigh, where he was following legislative negotiations on county public health cuts. "We're just trying to get the information we can."
He said the communicable disease supervisor and health education director were gathering all the information they could before releasing the names of the camps.
But the fact that the camp was unnamed for hours had the effect of increasing calls and questions from parents of children who are spending this week at all 22 residential camps in Henderson County.
A woman from Laurel Park said she called Camp Kanuga this morning to find out whether the Episcopal facility was the one with reported swine flu cases and was told that it was not. The grandmother was furious, though, that the camp's identity was kept secret.
Another area resident was also upset at the secrecy.
"I can't believe they didn't publish the name of which camp it is," she said. "It's unbelievable."
Later, the woman called Camp Falling Creek and was told that that camp had no swine flu cases.
The infected camp has been disinfecting and cleaning the site. Health officials are working closely with the camp to reduce the spread of the infection to others.
?The camp has already isolated those who are confirmed and treated them with antiviral medications. They are monitoring each of the staff and campers daily for signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness,? said Linda Weldon, RN, communicable disease supervisor at the health department.
Weldon stated other local camps have reported influenza-like illness as well, and are also monitoring staff and campers.
?We?re out there working and monitoring and getting information out to the camps,? said Linda Charping, health education director. ?We?ve been in contact with all the residential camps in our county. They?ve been very cooperative.?
Camp officials are following the CDC Interim Guidance on Day and Residential Camps, which includes evaluation of staff and campers who may have been exposed to those with the flu.
?Fortunately the flu has been relatively mild,? Charping said.
Henderson County has 22 residential camps.
Weldon advised that children who are experiencing influenza-like illness such as cough, sore throat and fever of 100 or greater should not go to camp. Parents should monitor the child a day or so before leaving for camp and only let their child attend if he or she is free of flu symptoms.
?For children at camp, it is important for camp staff to monitor campers and staff members daily and isolate anyone with symptoms. This information has been sent to all Henderson County residential camps,? stated Weldon. ?Parents should also monitor children returning from camp and notify the child?s physician if the child exhibits symptoms.?
More than 35,000 cases of swine flu have been reported worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 17,855 cases in the US and 44 deaths.
There have been 108 cases in North Carolina and no deaths. These are the first confirmed cases of swine flu in Henderson County.
For general information about swine flu, call the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services? Care-Line at 1-800-6... (English/Spanish) or 1-877-4... (TTY) or see state Web sites www.ncpublichealth.com or www.ncpanflu.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Inset:
Henderson County camps
Camps denied having any cases of H1N1
Adventure Treks
Blue Star Camps
Camp Arrowhead
Camp E-Toh-Kalu
Camp Green Cove
Camp Greystone
Camp Joy
Camp Kanuga
Camp Mondamin
Camp Pinewood
Camp Wayfarer
Falling Creek
Camp Pinnacle
Camp Ton-a-Wandah
Camps that could not be reached by phone
Bonclarken
Camp Courtney
Camp Glen Arden
Camp Highlander
Camp Tekoa
Talisman Summer Camps
Swine flu confirmed at Camp Judaea (and probable at Camp Ton-A-Wandah)
MIKE DIRKS/ TIMES-NEWS
Buy photo
The Henderson County Department of Public Health confirmed that three camp counselors from Camp Judaea have swine flu.
From staff reports
Published: Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 1:20 p.m.
Three camp counselors from Camp Judaea have swine flu and campers at Camp Ton-A-Wandah are being counted as probable cases, according to the health department. Health officials say sick counselors and campers are being treated and cared for at the camps and that parents of campers at the two camps have now been notified. No campers have been hospitalized.
The health department identified the two camps with confirmed and probable cases today. Some parents have expressed concern and want to know the names of the camps with swine flu.
?We certainly understand this concern but HIPAA privacy regulations are very involved and are designed to protect the privacy of the individual patient, said Tom Bridges, health department director. ?Public health takes that responsibility very seriously and always tries to do the right thing, both legally and morally, when it comes to protecting the individuals that make up the public in public health. There is some disagreement about whether releasing the names of the camps is permissible, as it is possible, some argue, that such information may potentially compromise the privacy of those involved.?
Health officials are working closely with the camps to reduce the spread of the infection to others.
?The camps have done an excellent job of screening their campers and quickly isolating those with symptoms of influenza like illness. The health department is also communicating frequently with local healthcare providers and the Urgent Care staff to provide the latest CDC and North Carolina guidelines for treatment and prevention of the flu,? stated Linda Weldon, RN, communicable disease supervisor.
Henderson County has 22 camps and campers come from all over the country and even outside of the United States. While the camps have been proactive in identifying children with symptoms and acting quickly to isolate them and give medical attention, parents need to check their children before sending them to camp.
?Before leaving home or putting your child on an airplane bound for camp, parents need to make sure children are well,? said Weldon.
She encouraged parents to contact the camp if they have concerns about sending their child to camp.
According to Weldon, swine flu is in the community.
?It?s important for people to know that H1N1 is everywhere, as indicated by the World Health Organization raising its alert level to six. Because it is everywhere that means anyone can catch the flu anywhere. That?s why the most important message here is that people everywhere, whether at camp, home, or work, follow the precautions to prevent illness.?
Taking all precautions
When the staff members became sick at the beginning of the session they were tested for the virus immediately, said Sandra Bass, Camp Judaea director.
Camp officials contacted its referring physician and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and followed their recommendations.
The recommendations included isolating the staff members for seven days, taking the temperatures and providing prophylactic treatment for the remaining staff, camper who had permission from their parents and instituting increased hand-washing measures and hygiene measure.
No one else at the camp has exhibited symptoms of the swine flu as of Thursday afternoon and all camper families have been notified. The staff members will stay isolated for seven days.
?Our staff members had mild symptoms and they are doing well,? Bass said. ?Camp is continuing as usual, as we pay special attention to monitoring campers and staff and ensuring preventative hygiene measures are taken.?
Flu symptoms but no swine flu at Ton-A-Wandah
Camp Ton-A-Wandah has said that they have five campers with confirmed cases of influenza, not swine flu.
?We have taken necessary precautions to isolate these campers from the general camp population and are working with the local health department, pediatricians, the American Camp Association set forth by the Centers for Disease Control pertaining to summer camps to control and prevent the spread of influenza and offer protection for unaffected campers and camp staff,? camp official Garrett Graham said in a press release.
The majority of the camp is healthy and well, said Graham.
Families that have campers enrolled in the current session have been notified of the illness and are aware of the actions camp personnel have taken.
?We believe that taking a proactive approach and being prepared for this situation is the best practice to serve our campers and our camp families,? the press release stated.
?We are fortunate that the cases of influenza have all been mild with quick recovery time and everyone is in good spirits,? it added.
Camp Ton-A-Wandah released the information earlier this afternoon before the health department sent out a press release revealing the names of the camps with cases of influenza and the swine flu.
Camps' reactions
The Times-News contacted 21 area camps earlier in the day. Of those contacted, 12 reported there were no swine flu cases and nine were unavailable for comment.
?I wish I did know who it was,? said Ann Brice, director of Camp Joy. ?There are so many camps in this area. I don?t know which one it might be.?
Area camps are taking precautionary measures by advising that children with flu-like symptoms to stay home.
?They basically need to wait to come to camp until they are symptom-free,? said Jim Miller, owner of Camp Greystone.
Flu symptoms include cough, sore throat and fever greater than 100.
Several camps said they plan to conduct health screenings as they open for the season or rotate camper sessions.
?We?re happy to have little Susie Q and Joey,? said Nancy Z. Wilson, director of Camp Wayfarer, ?but we need to make sure they?re healthy.?
Parents outraged
"We can't tell you until we get more facts," Henderson County Health Director Tom Bridges said this morning in a telephone interview from Raleigh, where he was following legislative negotiations on county public health cuts. "We're just trying to get the information we can."
He said the communicable disease supervisor and health education director were gathering all the information they could before releasing the names of the camps.
But the fact that the camp was unnamed for hours had the effect of increasing calls and questions from parents of children who are spending this week at all 22 residential camps in Henderson County.
A woman from Laurel Park said she called Camp Kanuga this morning to find out whether the Episcopal facility was the one with reported swine flu cases and was told that it was not. The grandmother was furious, though, that the camp's identity was kept secret.
Another area resident was also upset at the secrecy.
"I can't believe they didn't publish the name of which camp it is," she said. "It's unbelievable."
Later, the woman called Camp Falling Creek and was told that that camp had no swine flu cases.
The infected camp has been disinfecting and cleaning the site. Health officials are working closely with the camp to reduce the spread of the infection to others.
?The camp has already isolated those who are confirmed and treated them with antiviral medications. They are monitoring each of the staff and campers daily for signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness,? said Linda Weldon, RN, communicable disease supervisor at the health department.
Weldon stated other local camps have reported influenza-like illness as well, and are also monitoring staff and campers.
?We?re out there working and monitoring and getting information out to the camps,? said Linda Charping, health education director. ?We?ve been in contact with all the residential camps in our county. They?ve been very cooperative.?
Camp officials are following the CDC Interim Guidance on Day and Residential Camps, which includes evaluation of staff and campers who may have been exposed to those with the flu.
?Fortunately the flu has been relatively mild,? Charping said.
Henderson County has 22 residential camps.
Weldon advised that children who are experiencing influenza-like illness such as cough, sore throat and fever of 100 or greater should not go to camp. Parents should monitor the child a day or so before leaving for camp and only let their child attend if he or she is free of flu symptoms.
?For children at camp, it is important for camp staff to monitor campers and staff members daily and isolate anyone with symptoms. This information has been sent to all Henderson County residential camps,? stated Weldon. ?Parents should also monitor children returning from camp and notify the child?s physician if the child exhibits symptoms.?
More than 35,000 cases of swine flu have been reported worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 17,855 cases in the US and 44 deaths.
There have been 108 cases in North Carolina and no deaths. These are the first confirmed cases of swine flu in Henderson County.
For general information about swine flu, call the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services? Care-Line at 1-800-6... (English/Spanish) or 1-877-4... (TTY) or see state Web sites www.ncpublichealth.com or www.ncpanflu.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Inset:
Henderson County camps
Camps denied having any cases of H1N1
Adventure Treks
Blue Star Camps
Camp Arrowhead
Camp E-Toh-Kalu
Camp Green Cove
Camp Greystone
Camp Joy
Camp Kanuga
Camp Mondamin
Camp Pinewood
Camp Wayfarer
Falling Creek
Camp Pinnacle
Camp Ton-a-Wandah
Camps that could not be reached by phone
Bonclarken
Camp Courtney
Camp Glen Arden
Camp Highlander
Camp Tekoa
Talisman Summer Camps