http://heraldnet.com/article/20090923/NEWS01/709239786
Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Many students out sick at 2 Snohomish schools
By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH -- Dozens of students from two Snohomish schools missed school because they were sick Tuesday, including many with flu-like symptoms, prompting an alert to the Snohomish Health District.
"Not all the absences were for flu-like illnesses, but many were," said J.Marie Riche, a Snohomish School District spokeswoman.
Schools contact the health district when 10 percent of students are absent because of illness.
On Tuesday, 93 of 836 students at Centennial Middle School in the district's north end were reported absent. That's 11 percent.
At the same time, 82 of 766 students at Little Cedars Elementary School in the district's south end were reported absent. That's 10.7 percent.
"This is not uncommon," said Suzanne Pate, a spokeswoman for the health district. "It happens as soon as people get into closed environments."
School district officials said they had no way of knowing if students are experiencing the seasonal flu or the swine flu
Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, medical director for the Everett Clinic's walk-in clinic, said he is not surprised to see reports of an increase in flu-related absences in the schools.
Influenza never went away this summer, which is quite unusual, Tu said. Although the levels were low in the Puget Sound corridor, it remained in the community.
"We saw it pick up right after Labor Day," Tu said. "For the last two weeks, we have seen more influenza activities, an increase in the number of patients with influenza-like illness and influenza tests given and an increase in the number of positive influenza tests we are getting back."
"It doesn't surprise me when you tell me there is a school here or there that has a high absentee rate," he said. "We expected it, but it's not widespread."
Riche, the Snohomish district spokeswoman, said schools are taking a more vigilant approach to monitoring illnesses this year and they are asking parents to keep their children home if they show signs of sickness.
Health officials are urging people to take several basic steps to prevent the spread of the flu. Those precautions include carefully washing hands, covering one's cough and staying home when ill.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Many students out sick at 2 Snohomish schools
By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH -- Dozens of students from two Snohomish schools missed school because they were sick Tuesday, including many with flu-like symptoms, prompting an alert to the Snohomish Health District.
"Not all the absences were for flu-like illnesses, but many were," said J.Marie Riche, a Snohomish School District spokeswoman.
Schools contact the health district when 10 percent of students are absent because of illness.
On Tuesday, 93 of 836 students at Centennial Middle School in the district's north end were reported absent. That's 11 percent.
At the same time, 82 of 766 students at Little Cedars Elementary School in the district's south end were reported absent. That's 10.7 percent.
"This is not uncommon," said Suzanne Pate, a spokeswoman for the health district. "It happens as soon as people get into closed environments."
School district officials said they had no way of knowing if students are experiencing the seasonal flu or the swine flu
Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, medical director for the Everett Clinic's walk-in clinic, said he is not surprised to see reports of an increase in flu-related absences in the schools.
Influenza never went away this summer, which is quite unusual, Tu said. Although the levels were low in the Puget Sound corridor, it remained in the community.
"We saw it pick up right after Labor Day," Tu said. "For the last two weeks, we have seen more influenza activities, an increase in the number of patients with influenza-like illness and influenza tests given and an increase in the number of positive influenza tests we are getting back."
"It doesn't surprise me when you tell me there is a school here or there that has a high absentee rate," he said. "We expected it, but it's not widespread."
Riche, the Snohomish district spokeswoman, said schools are taking a more vigilant approach to monitoring illnesses this year and they are asking parents to keep their children home if they show signs of sickness.
Health officials are urging people to take several basic steps to prevent the spread of the flu. Those precautions include carefully washing hands, covering one's cough and staying home when ill.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com