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Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

H

HenryN

Retired
Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

Three Cases Of H1N1 Flu In Shaler Students

POSTED: 11:45 am EDT June 9, 2009
UPDATED: 12:07 pm EDT June 9, 2009


<SCRIPT type=text/javascript src="/js/13260191/script.js"></SCRIPT><LINK rel=stylesheet type=text/css href="/css/13260803/style.css"><!--startindex-->SHALER, Pa. -- Shaler School District leaders have confirmed three students have been diagnosed with probably cases of the H1N1 flu.
According to a letter from Superintendent Donald Lee, posted on the school district's Web site, officials were informed a student went to the doctor on May 25 with flu symptoms.
In the letter, Lee said the school district waited for test results to come back before releasing a statement.
The school district took pro-active steps and removed the students from the student body population.
"Please understand that learning how to deal with this process has been frustrating due to the fact that one's instincts dictate that people need to know about such issues but on the other hand you don't want to create an unnecessary panic," Lee said in the letter. "Please know that my office and the administration and nurse's office at SAMS have been in constant contact with the Allegheny County Health Department on the proper course of action to follow in this situation."
To read the letter, visit http://sasd.k12.pa.us.
School district representatives said they have been in contact with the Allegheny County Health Department about the situation. There is still more testing to be done before the cases are fully confirmed.
Lee also said no H1N1 flu cases in Allegheny County have resulted in hospitalization and that all cases, to date, have been considered mild.
One high school student and two in middle school are affected with flu-like symptoms.
The health department said all three students are recovering at home.
Since the students are away from the student population, health department officials said new emerging cases are not likely.
Health officials said they should know in a couple of days if these are confirmed H1N1 cases.
 
Re: Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

Shaler Area Community,

I realize that stories have circulated about some issues at our Middle School about a possible H1N1 virus case. Please understand that learning how to deal with this process has been frustrating due to the fact that one's instincts dictate that people need to know about such issues but on the other hand you don't want to create an unnecessary panic. Please know that my office and the administration and nurse's office at SAMS have been in constant contact with the Allegheny County Health Department on the proper course of action to follow in this situation. What you will read in a letter linked to this message, that is being mailed to the public today, is that the process to determine if a patient has H1N1 involves three levels of lab testing with each level taking several days. You will also read that due to our concern for public safety and due to our frustration that the lab analysis was longer than we were comfortable with we decided to engage in what we determined to be common sense steps to try and insure everyone's safety. It was these measures that helped create the rumors and stories. Those measures involved calling families that 1) had close contact with the initial person who had the flu; 2) calling parents of students with flu symptoms and asking any employees who had flu symptoms to stay home and 3) finally calling families of students who are immunosuppressed and highly susceptible to any type of illness. As those calls were made people naturally began talking with one another. As calls came into the school district we attempted to describe this process and what we were dealing with but until Friday, June 5th I didn't receive any official confirmation that our case was probable for the H1N1 which according to the County is when the public should be notified. This same process is what was used by the County in another couple school districts we have heard about on the news in recent weeks.

This situation began on Friday, May 25th when we learned that this first person from the Middle School had gone to the doctor with flu symptoms and began this three step lab process. Late day Monday we learned that the lab stated that this person had Type A Flu. On Tuesday we learned that the specimen had to be further analyzed. As we dealt with the frustration of that wait time we began the contact scenarios described above. On Wednesday we called the County Health Department to seek further advice and that is when we learned of this specific three step testing process where the first step is to determine if the flu is of the Type A variety and the second step is to determine if it is non-seasonal or seasonal. If seasonal then it is not a matter to be concerned with but if it is non-seasonal then it requires the third lab test to determine if the non-seasonal strain is the H1N1. We talked with the County about what we had already done and they advised us regarding when to send a letter and supplied us with copies of letters sent by others. As our family contacts continued Wednesday and Thursday more questions and rumors emerged.

Again it is important to understand that the County felt it was not proper to send a letter until we confirmed that the second step in the testing process determined it was this non-seasonal variety which means it is probable to have the potential to be H1N1. That confirmation came about this case being a probable H1N1 case came around 10:45 AM on Friday, June 5th. At that time we were also advised that two other individuals, one at the middle school and one at the high school who had either direct or indirect contact with the first case have been confirmed to have Type A Influenza and that their lab work is on its way to Step 2 of the process identified above.

Please be reassured that we engaged in activity that was always intended to insure safety but not to create unnecessary concern. Since school is about to close in a few days we will use the website to update you with any new information. The final thing that is important to understand is that the Allegheny County has reported that no cases in our region have resulted in hospitalization and that all cases, to date, have been considered mild in nature.

The School District appreciates your patience as we attempted to handle this most delicate and important situation. Allegheny County and our staff have been diligent and caring in the handling of this situation. All of the individuals that I worked with on this matter are true professionals and have the best interests of the public at heart and are to be commended. See Letter...

Donald Lee
Superintendent ​
 
Re: Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

​
SHALER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT ​

1800 MT. ROYAL BOULEVARD
GLENSHAW, PA 15116-2196​
(412) 492-1200, Ext. 2801
FAX (412) 492-1293​
DONALD A​
. LEE, Ed.D.
SUPERINTENDENT ​

June 5, 2009 ​
Dear Parents/Guardians of students of the Shaler Area School District:
The Shaler Area School District has been notified by the Allegheny County Health Department that the Shaler Area Middle School on Mount Royal Boulevard has a ​
​
probable infection with the novel H1N1 influenza virus, commonly known as swine flu. Final confirmation of whether it is H1N1 should be forthcoming sometime next week. The County advises us that essentially the lab analysis process involves three steps, each of which takes a few days to complete. Step One is to determine if the flu is the Type A variety; Step 2 is to determine if the Type A flu is seasonal or non-seasonal and if non-seasonal then Step 3 is to determine if the non-seasonal variety is H1N1.
We were advised by the county not to alert the public until we confirmed we were at Step 2 or the notion of the "non-seasonal" variety. That confirmation came to me directly from an Allegheny Count Health Department official late morning on Friday, June 5, 2009.
We also have two other confirmed cases of Type A influenza, which as stated is the first determination made through the lab testing process. Of these two additional confirmed Type A cases we have one at the middle school and one at the high school and their specimens are moving to Step 2.
As stated H1N1 is a one strain/version of Type A influenza. All of the individuals mentioned are recovering at home and are under a physician?s care. As we attempt to deal with this situation and place it in the proper perspective it is important to understand that the Allegheny County Health Department reports that no cases of the H1N1 virus identified in our region have resulted in any patient hospitalizations, in fact they have all been reported as mild cases.
Based on this information and in consultation with the Allegheny County Health Department, the Shaler Area School District is not recommending any classroom or school closures. As an added precaution though, we have undertaken additional cleaning efforts in the school.
The novel H1N1 influenza virus does not appear to be any more severe than normal seasonal influenza but seasonal influenza vaccine does not offer protection from this new strain. Symptoms of infection with the virus include a fever > 100 degrees Fahrenheit and one or more of the following: cough, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, sneezing and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting. The novel H1N1 influenza virus can be treated with antiviral medications if started early enough.
We realize that during the past few days rumors have emerged about this situation and there is a specific reason why that occurred. Those of us at Shaler Area who have been dealing with this important situation were somewhat frustrated by the long process of lab analysis and felt we
needed to engage in some preventative activity so we could be responsible in protecting the community. That activity is what caused information of a suspected case to emerge. The activity was very simply that we contacted individuals we knew had contact with the initial case; we contacted any family whose child came to the nurses office with fever and at least one other cold or flu symptom and finally we contacted any students who might be immuno suppressed who are susceptible to any illness that might be present in the school. In all cases we advised these families that we had a person with the flu whose physician had ordered lab analysis due to his concern for his patient and that we just didn?t want to sit by and not do anything. Those calls began after we had confirmed that the initial case was Type A influenza and we knew the lab work was moving to Step 2.
Also, we are asking each of you to take the following steps to minimize the chances of further outbreak: ​

Students, faculty or staff with Fever >100 degrees Fahrenheit and cold symptoms (cough, sore throat, runny nose, congestion, or sneezing) should stay home and not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care for seven days after symptom onset or 24 hours after symptoms go away without the use of medications, whichever is longer.
Students, faculty and staff who are still sick seven days after they become ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away without the use of medications.
Students, faculty and staff should follow standard sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue isn?t available), frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using alcohol based hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.
The following websites from the Center for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania State Department of Health also contain additional information that you may find helpful. ​
http://www.ded.gov/h1n1flu/generalinfo.htm
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?g=252990 ​
I thank you for your understanding and assure you that we will continue to work with the Allegheny County Health Department to monitor the situation. Since school is set to close in a week we will use our website to notify you as new information is received. ​
<DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR>
Sincerely, ​
</DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR>
Dr. Donald Lee
Superintendent ​
cag
 
Re: Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

Getting closer. Daughters have TEAMMATES from Shaler Middle School AND High School.
 
Re: Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

niman said:
Getting closer. Daughters have TEAMMATES from Shaler Middle School AND High School.
Click to expand...
Sounds like swine H1N1 is closer than I thought. I told my middle school daughter about Shaler, and she said a student at Fairview Elementary (in our Fox Chapel school district) was infected.

So far it is just a rumor. I haven't come up with anythng official, but two students on the bus had the same story (and they probably didn't know about Shaler, since it was just announced in the news today), so it is likely true - my past questions about anyone dicussing swine flu in school have been met with firm NO's.
 
Re: Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

niman said:
Sounds like swine H1N1 is closer than I thought. I told my middle school daughter about Shaler, and she said a student at Fairview Elementary (in our Fox Chapel school district) was infected.

So far it is just a rumor. I haven't come up with anythng official, but two students on the bus had the same story (and they probably didn't know about Shaler, since it was just announced in the news today), so it is likely true - my past questions about anyone dicussing swine flu in school have been met with firm NO's.
Click to expand...
No notice on the wbesite, but now the latest is the parents of students at Fairview received a letter warning of the new case.
 
Re: Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

Important Message From the Superintendent
Probable Case of H1N1 at Shaler Area

Revised - Monday, June 8, 2009

The message below was created on Friday, June 5th. In the report below it was indicated that two additional individuals (one student at the Mt. Royal Middle School and one student at Shaler Area High School) had been found to have the Type A Flu and that their cultures were sent for further testing. The Allegheny County Health Department has reported that these two individuals are now confirmed to be of the non-seasonal variety and are probable to be the H1N1 Virus. I have been in contact with all three of these individuals and they are not only under a physician's care but are responding well to the medications they have been prescribed and are past the fever stages and are actually feeling much better. If we have new information in the next day or two we will certainly update this message at that time.
Shaler Area Community,

I realize that stories have circulated about some issues at our Middle School about a possible H1N1 virus case. Please understand that learning how to deal with this process has been frustrating due to the fact that one's instincts dictate that people need to know about such issues but on the other hand you don't want to create an unnecessary panic. Please know that my office and the administration and nurse's office at SAMS have been in constant contact with the Allegheny County Health Department on the proper course of action to follow in this situation. What you will read in a letter linked to this message, that is being mailed to the public today, is that the process to determine if a patient has H1N1 involves three levels of lab testing with each level taking several days. You will also read that due to our concern for public safety and due to our frustration that the lab analysis was longer than we were comfortable with we decided to engage in what we determined to be common sense steps to try and insure everyone's safety. It was these measures that helped create the rumors and stories. Those measures involved calling families that 1) had close contact with the initial person who had the flu; 2) calling parents of students with flu symptoms and asking any employees who had flu symptoms to stay home and 3) finally calling families of students who are immunosuppressed and highly susceptible to any type of illness. As those calls were made people naturally began talking with one another. As calls came into the school district we attempted to describe this process and what we were dealing with but until Friday, June 5th I didn't receive any official confirmation that our case was probable for the H1N1 which according to the County is when the public should be notified. This same process is what was used by the County in another couple school districts we have heard about on the news in recent weeks.

This situation began on Friday, May 25th when we learned that this first person from the Middle School had gone to the doctor with flu symptoms and began this three step lab process. Late day Monday we learned that the lab stated that this person had Type A Flu. On Tuesday we learned that the specimen had to be further analyzed. As we dealt with the frustration of that wait time we began the contact scenarios described above. On Wednesday we called the County Health Department to seek further advice and that is when we learned of this specific three step testing process where the first step is to determine if the flu is of the Type A variety and the second step is to determine if it is non-seasonal or seasonal. If seasonal then it is not a matter to be concerned with but if it is non-seasonal then it requires the third lab test to determine if the non-seasonal strain is the H1N1. We talked with the County about what we had already done and they advised us regarding when to send a letter and supplied us with copies of letters sent by others. As our family contacts continued Wednesday and Thursday more questions and rumors emerged.

Again it is important to understand that the County felt it was not proper to send a letter until we confirmed that the second step in the testing process determined it was this non-seasonal variety which means it is probable to have the potential to be H1N1. That confirmation came about this case being a probable H1N1 case came around 10:45 AM on Friday, June 5th. At that time we were also advised that two other individuals, one at the middle school and one at the high school who had either direct or indirect contact with the first case have been confirmed to have Type A Influenza and that their lab work is on its way to Step 2 of the process identified above.

Please be reassured that we engaged in activity that was always intended to insure safety but not to create unnecessary concern. Since school is about to close in a few days we will use the website to update you with any new information. The final thing that is important to understand is that the Allegheny County has reported that no cases in our region have resulted in hospitalization and that all cases, to date, have been considered mild in nature.

The School District appreciates your patience as we attempted to handle this most delicate and important situation. Allegheny County and our staff have been diligent and caring in the handling of this situation. All of the individuals that I worked with on this matter are true professionals and have the best interests of the public at heart and are to be commended. See Letter...
Donald Lee
Superintendent

http://sasd.k12.pa.us/login.aspx?id=26658
 
Re: Shaler School District Confirms Probably H1N1 Cases

Shaler School District Confirms 3 Swine Flu Cases

Posted: 7:35 am EDT June 23, 2009Updated: 8:00 am EDT June 23, 2009
<!--startindex-->SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Three students from the Shaler Area School District have tested positive for the swine flu virus.
The school district released an updated statement on its Web site, confirming the cases.
The Allegheny County Health Department confirmed the previous probable cases were the H1N1 strain.
All three students left school when symptoms appeared and took the recommended precautions. They have since recovered back to good health.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/19831455/detail.html
 
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