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Lakeville school loses quarter of students to 'flu-like sickness'
By SARAH LEMAGIE, Star Tribune
Last update: September 21, 2009 - 4:32 PM
Roughly 28 percent of the students at a Lakeville elementary school were out sick today with flu-like symptoms.
Eastview Elementary School had 175 reported absences in a student body of 615, Principal Dick Oscarson said this afternoon. In five cases, parents called the school to say that their children had confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, also called swine flu.
As of this afternoon, Lakeville school officials did not plan to cancel classes at Eastview, said Linda Swanson, district spokeswoman. The district has reported the outbreak to the state Health Department and will follow recommended guidelines for dealing with swine flu, she said.
Through the middle of last week, few students had been absent from school this fall, Oscarson said. On Thursday, the school saw an uptick in the number of students calling in sick. On Friday, 7 percent of the student body stayed home with flu-like symptoms, and the school sent an e-mail to parents and told the state Health Department.
As of this morning, 67 Minnesota schools have reported flu-like outbreaks to the state Health Department. The number has more than doubled in less than a week.
State health officials have asked for notification when at least 5 percent of a school's population is absent with flu-like sickness. For elementary schools, they also want to know when three or more children in the same class have symptoms of flu, defined as a fever of more than 100 degrees and a cough or sore throat.
Eastview sent another e-mail alert to families today, and the school plans to call parents using an automated phone message system this evening, Oscarson said.
At school, teachers reminded students to wash their hands and cough into their sleeves, and told kids to speak up if they felt sick.
"We kept it somewhat low-key," so as not to alarm students, the principal said.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyl...UoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciatkEP7DhUsl
By SARAH LEMAGIE, Star Tribune
Last update: September 21, 2009 - 4:32 PM
Roughly 28 percent of the students at a Lakeville elementary school were out sick today with flu-like symptoms.
Eastview Elementary School had 175 reported absences in a student body of 615, Principal Dick Oscarson said this afternoon. In five cases, parents called the school to say that their children had confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, also called swine flu.
As of this afternoon, Lakeville school officials did not plan to cancel classes at Eastview, said Linda Swanson, district spokeswoman. The district has reported the outbreak to the state Health Department and will follow recommended guidelines for dealing with swine flu, she said.
Through the middle of last week, few students had been absent from school this fall, Oscarson said. On Thursday, the school saw an uptick in the number of students calling in sick. On Friday, 7 percent of the student body stayed home with flu-like symptoms, and the school sent an e-mail to parents and told the state Health Department.
As of this morning, 67 Minnesota schools have reported flu-like outbreaks to the state Health Department. The number has more than doubled in less than a week.
State health officials have asked for notification when at least 5 percent of a school's population is absent with flu-like sickness. For elementary schools, they also want to know when three or more children in the same class have symptoms of flu, defined as a fever of more than 100 degrees and a cough or sore throat.
Eastview sent another e-mail alert to families today, and the school plans to call parents using an automated phone message system this evening, Oscarson said.
At school, teachers reminded students to wash their hands and cough into their sleeves, and told kids to speak up if they felt sick.
"We kept it somewhat low-key," so as not to alarm students, the principal said.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyl...UoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciatkEP7DhUsl