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Hillsborough students with flu symptoms must now wear masks in school
By KRISTA KLAUS
Published: September 14, 2009
As the swine flu epidemic makes its way through Hillsborough County schools, the district is stepping up efforts to stop the spread of infection.
Beginning today, school nurses will place masks on kids displaying flu-like symptoms, according to district spokesperson Linda Cobbe. All of the district's school nurses were expected to pick up their supply of masks at the Velasco Student Services Center in Ybor City today.
The mask is one of several steps the district is taking to contain the spread of swine flu, including a mass voicemail sent to all Hillsborough school district households over the weekend. In the message, district and health officials informed families the H1N1 vaccine would be administered in schools as soon as it is available.
The district is purchasing 20,00 masks ? enough for about 10 percent of students.
Steve Ayers, director of community and parent relations, said the district planned to vaccinate "medically fragile" students first before moving on to the general student population. Signed consent is required for a student to receive the shot.
The county expects to begin receiving shipments of the swine flu vaccine by mid-October.
The district already quarantines students with flu symptoms.
Mary Apodaca, school nurse for Rampello K-8 magnet school, said she is quarantining kids with a cough, sore throat or stomach pain regardless of whether they have a fever until their parents pick them up.
Apodaca said flu season started earlier than usual this year.
"It's pretty severe this year. This is the first year in five years that we've been so inundated with symptoms at the beginning of the school year," she said.
The Hillsborough County Health Department said the goal is to get as many students inoculated as quickly as possible.
"The current plan is we will go into schools and do class-by-class and somehow vaccinate a school a day," said Steve Huard, spokesperson for the Health Department.
Health officials also plan to vaccinate elementary school children at district buildings for seasonal influenza.
According to the Florida Department of Health, 79 people have been killed as a result of swine flu. Eight deaths occurred last week.
No Hillsborough County schoolchildren have died as a result of complications from the swine flu.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/14/141551/hillsborough-students-flu-symptoms-must-wear-masks/
By KRISTA KLAUS
Published: September 14, 2009
As the swine flu epidemic makes its way through Hillsborough County schools, the district is stepping up efforts to stop the spread of infection.
Beginning today, school nurses will place masks on kids displaying flu-like symptoms, according to district spokesperson Linda Cobbe. All of the district's school nurses were expected to pick up their supply of masks at the Velasco Student Services Center in Ybor City today.
The mask is one of several steps the district is taking to contain the spread of swine flu, including a mass voicemail sent to all Hillsborough school district households over the weekend. In the message, district and health officials informed families the H1N1 vaccine would be administered in schools as soon as it is available.
The district is purchasing 20,00 masks ? enough for about 10 percent of students.
Steve Ayers, director of community and parent relations, said the district planned to vaccinate "medically fragile" students first before moving on to the general student population. Signed consent is required for a student to receive the shot.
The county expects to begin receiving shipments of the swine flu vaccine by mid-October.
The district already quarantines students with flu symptoms.
Mary Apodaca, school nurse for Rampello K-8 magnet school, said she is quarantining kids with a cough, sore throat or stomach pain regardless of whether they have a fever until their parents pick them up.
Apodaca said flu season started earlier than usual this year.
"It's pretty severe this year. This is the first year in five years that we've been so inundated with symptoms at the beginning of the school year," she said.
The Hillsborough County Health Department said the goal is to get as many students inoculated as quickly as possible.
"The current plan is we will go into schools and do class-by-class and somehow vaccinate a school a day," said Steve Huard, spokesperson for the Health Department.
Health officials also plan to vaccinate elementary school children at district buildings for seasonal influenza.
According to the Florida Department of Health, 79 people have been killed as a result of swine flu. Eight deaths occurred last week.
No Hillsborough County schoolchildren have died as a result of complications from the swine flu.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/14/141551/hillsborough-students-flu-symptoms-must-wear-masks/