Commonground
Senior Moderator
By Trevor Jones
<!--date-->Updated: 10/24/2009 07:08:24 AM EDT
<!--secondary date-->
<script language="JavaScript"> var requestedWidth = 0; </script>
<script language="JavaScript"> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } </script>Saturday, Oct. 24
PITTSFIELD -- More than a dozen city school students were sent home with flu-like symptoms on Thursday and Friday, reflecting a growing concern among officials about the seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses.
"We obviously realize that [the swine flu virus] is in the area, so we're going to continue to monitor attendance," said Howard "Jake" Eberwein III, superintendent of Pittsfield Public Schools.
Eberwein said none of the students who were sent home have been confirmed to have swine flu, or H1N1. Nevertheless, on Thursday, he sent a notice to parents advising them of the situation.
In spite of the potentially ill students, Thursday's attendance figures were normal, with 92.6 percent of students in school, according to Eberwein.
Eberwein said the school has a number of measures in place to deal with a potential flu outbreak, but proper hygiene and awareness of any possible symptoms are the best solution for now.
"The most important thing is proper hygiene -- washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough -- and secondly, staying home when you're sick."
Since April 26, there have been 1,436 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Massachusetts, according to the latest state Department of Public Health figures released on Thursday.
The school-aged population has been hardest hit by H1N1 -- 61 percent of all Massachusetts cases are among those who are 18 and younger
In the town of Grafton, the high school closed early on Friday and classes have been canceled through Tuesday. Roughly 36 percent of the student body, or 236 students, were out sick Thursday with flu-like symptoms.
Earlier this week, 12 students voluntarily left the Massachusetts Liberal Arts College campus in North Adams with flu-like symptoms. Three of them have already returned to campus.
But for the most part, school officials said, the number of students going home sick is not significantly higher than previous years.
"We have a few likely cases, but no elevated levels of absenteeism," said William D. Travis, superintendent of Mount Greylock Regional School District.
James Montepare, superintendent of North Adams Public Schools, said there has been a slight spike in absenteeism, but nothing out of the norm for this time of year. Montepare said part of that could be coming with greater awareness from parents.
"I think they're a little bit more vigilant and watchful to the flu symptoms," he said.
Peter Dillon, superintendent of Berkshire Hills Regional School District, said there have been a "handful of kids in each school" with flu-like symptoms, but nothing alarming.
But even with the low numbers of students out sick, Dillon said officials in Berkshire Hills and the other local school districts will continue to stay on top of things.
"For the moment, it's not [a problem], but we'll continue to keep an eye on it so it doesn't become one," said Dillon.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_13631288
<!--date-->Updated: 10/24/2009 07:08:24 AM EDT
<!--secondary date-->
<script language="JavaScript"> var requestedWidth = 0; </script>
<script language="JavaScript"> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } </script>Saturday, Oct. 24
PITTSFIELD -- More than a dozen city school students were sent home with flu-like symptoms on Thursday and Friday, reflecting a growing concern among officials about the seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses.
"We obviously realize that [the swine flu virus] is in the area, so we're going to continue to monitor attendance," said Howard "Jake" Eberwein III, superintendent of Pittsfield Public Schools.
Eberwein said none of the students who were sent home have been confirmed to have swine flu, or H1N1. Nevertheless, on Thursday, he sent a notice to parents advising them of the situation.
In spite of the potentially ill students, Thursday's attendance figures were normal, with 92.6 percent of students in school, according to Eberwein.
Eberwein said the school has a number of measures in place to deal with a potential flu outbreak, but proper hygiene and awareness of any possible symptoms are the best solution for now.
"The most important thing is proper hygiene -- washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough -- and secondly, staying home when you're sick."
Since April 26, there have been 1,436 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Massachusetts, according to the latest state Department of Public Health figures released on Thursday.
The school-aged population has been hardest hit by H1N1 -- 61 percent of all Massachusetts cases are among those who are 18 and younger
In the town of Grafton, the high school closed early on Friday and classes have been canceled through Tuesday. Roughly 36 percent of the student body, or 236 students, were out sick Thursday with flu-like symptoms.
Earlier this week, 12 students voluntarily left the Massachusetts Liberal Arts College campus in North Adams with flu-like symptoms. Three of them have already returned to campus.
But for the most part, school officials said, the number of students going home sick is not significantly higher than previous years.
"We have a few likely cases, but no elevated levels of absenteeism," said William D. Travis, superintendent of Mount Greylock Regional School District.
James Montepare, superintendent of North Adams Public Schools, said there has been a slight spike in absenteeism, but nothing out of the norm for this time of year. Montepare said part of that could be coming with greater awareness from parents.
"I think they're a little bit more vigilant and watchful to the flu symptoms," he said.
Peter Dillon, superintendent of Berkshire Hills Regional School District, said there have been a "handful of kids in each school" with flu-like symptoms, but nothing alarming.
But even with the low numbers of students out sick, Dillon said officials in Berkshire Hills and the other local school districts will continue to stay on top of things.
"For the moment, it's not [a problem], but we'll continue to keep an eye on it so it doesn't become one," said Dillon.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_13631288