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Houston doctor: Schools will close because of swine flu
04:47 PM CDT on Thursday, September 17, 2009
By Leigh Frillici / 11 News
HOUSTON ? Alief Montessori School was the first in Houston to close because of swine flu this year. There was one confirmed case at the school, and some suspected cases. The school principal issued a statement saying she made the decision in order to disinfect classrooms.
Houston Doctor Norris Payne is a pediatrician who believes what happened at Alief Montessori is just the beginning.
?I think that it?s the first of many, and I think it?s possible within two months that most schools will be closed,? he said.
Dr. Payne said that he?s seeing a rapid rise in swine flu cases. Over the summer, he saw five patients a day, and now he?s treating 20 kids a day, he said.
?Kids were not really sick but now one out of five kids are,? said Dr. Payne. ?(They have) high fever, lethargy, they can?t walk they have to be carried in.?
At the end of last school year, concern about swine flu closed Travis Elementary.
HISD says it won?t do that again at any school, unless absences of students and staff are extreme, and the health department recommends closing.
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou090917_jj_swine-flu-doctor-diagnosis.18d2633af.html
04:47 PM CDT on Thursday, September 17, 2009
By Leigh Frillici / 11 News
HOUSTON ? Alief Montessori School was the first in Houston to close because of swine flu this year. There was one confirmed case at the school, and some suspected cases. The school principal issued a statement saying she made the decision in order to disinfect classrooms.
Houston Doctor Norris Payne is a pediatrician who believes what happened at Alief Montessori is just the beginning.
?I think that it?s the first of many, and I think it?s possible within two months that most schools will be closed,? he said.
Dr. Payne said that he?s seeing a rapid rise in swine flu cases. Over the summer, he saw five patients a day, and now he?s treating 20 kids a day, he said.
?Kids were not really sick but now one out of five kids are,? said Dr. Payne. ?(They have) high fever, lethargy, they can?t walk they have to be carried in.?
At the end of last school year, concern about swine flu closed Travis Elementary.
HISD says it won?t do that again at any school, unless absences of students and staff are extreme, and the health department recommends closing.
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou090917_jj_swine-flu-doctor-diagnosis.18d2633af.html