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Shoshone schools close for flu outbreak
Damon Hunzeker - Times-News writer
Posted: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
<DL class=moz-border id=story-font-size done22="82" done21="82" done13="82" done12="82" done11="82" done8="82" done5="82" done26="0" done25="0"><DT>Swine flu, or at least the suspicion of swine flu, has closed another school district in the Magic Valley.</DT><DT> </DT><DT>On Monday Shoshone District Superintendent Mel Wiseman said district schools will be closed all week, following inordinate numbers of absent students.</DT><DT> </DT><DT>"We had 47 elementary kids and 15 secondary kids gone this morning," Wiseman said. "That's out of 585 students, and we sent 15 more elementary kids home this afternoon."</DT></DL>While the South Central Public Health District has confirmed no cases of swine flu in the area, both Murtaugh and Oakley schools closed last week because of "flu-like symptoms," but then opened again for classes on Monday.
Wiseman said the district has heard about two cases in Bellevue of students with swine flu but said the reports came from "siblings or other students," rather than the health district.
"So we've had rumors thereof," he said.
Classes weren't scheduled for Friday, anyway, because of previously scheduled in-service.
"We hadn't used our emergency-closure days yet. Usually, in this country, they're used for snow days, but the state has issued some prerogatives allowing additional days," Wiseman said. "Our crisis team pulled together and felt like the flu-like symptoms were enough to shut the schools down, and that's what we're doing."
According to a recent press release from the health district, Idaho is one of 37 states reporting widespread influenza activity, and four people in the state have died from swine flu since Sept. 1.
The health district recommends staying home if you're sick, washing your hands frequently, coughing and sneezing in your sleeve, and staying at least six feet away from anyone who's sick.
The first shipment of swine-flu vaccine was received by the health district from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. A mass vaccination was conducted in Murtuagh first, and spokeswoman Amy Lierman said vaccinations will be available in additional areas soon and will be announced accordingly.
"We sent a form home to parents, so we'd know many doses we'll need. If we can get that form back by Monday, we'd sure appreciate it," Wiseman said.
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_cf0c4f5e-f51f-50e8-af24-afd1b203e5ad.html
Damon Hunzeker - Times-News writer
Posted: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
<DL class=moz-border id=story-font-size done22="82" done21="82" done13="82" done12="82" done11="82" done8="82" done5="82" done26="0" done25="0"><DT>Swine flu, or at least the suspicion of swine flu, has closed another school district in the Magic Valley.</DT><DT> </DT><DT>On Monday Shoshone District Superintendent Mel Wiseman said district schools will be closed all week, following inordinate numbers of absent students.</DT><DT> </DT><DT>"We had 47 elementary kids and 15 secondary kids gone this morning," Wiseman said. "That's out of 585 students, and we sent 15 more elementary kids home this afternoon."</DT></DL>While the South Central Public Health District has confirmed no cases of swine flu in the area, both Murtaugh and Oakley schools closed last week because of "flu-like symptoms," but then opened again for classes on Monday.
Wiseman said the district has heard about two cases in Bellevue of students with swine flu but said the reports came from "siblings or other students," rather than the health district.
"So we've had rumors thereof," he said.
Classes weren't scheduled for Friday, anyway, because of previously scheduled in-service.
"We hadn't used our emergency-closure days yet. Usually, in this country, they're used for snow days, but the state has issued some prerogatives allowing additional days," Wiseman said. "Our crisis team pulled together and felt like the flu-like symptoms were enough to shut the schools down, and that's what we're doing."
According to a recent press release from the health district, Idaho is one of 37 states reporting widespread influenza activity, and four people in the state have died from swine flu since Sept. 1.
The health district recommends staying home if you're sick, washing your hands frequently, coughing and sneezing in your sleeve, and staying at least six feet away from anyone who's sick.
The first shipment of swine-flu vaccine was received by the health district from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. A mass vaccination was conducted in Murtuagh first, and spokeswoman Amy Lierman said vaccinations will be available in additional areas soon and will be announced accordingly.
"We sent a form home to parents, so we'd know many doses we'll need. If we can get that form back by Monday, we'd sure appreciate it," Wiseman said.
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_cf0c4f5e-f51f-50e8-af24-afd1b203e5ad.html