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Swine flu cases continue to play out locally
By Jennifer Myers, jmyers@lowellsun.com
Updated: 06/06/2009 06:35:39 AM EDT
LOWELL -- Officials from the city's Health Department met with the faculty and staff of the Lowell Community Charter School Thursday to address concerns regarding the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu.
On Thursday 181 students were absent. Yesterday 161 did not show up for school. The school's enrollment is about 900 students.
"We are not really concerned about it," said Chris Connolly, public health nurse manager. "We met for two hours with the staff and they are right on track with what they need to do regarding educating people about proper hand washing, cough etiquette and keeping kids out of school for seven days in order to recover."
Meanwhile, Alvirne High in Hudson, N.H., yesterday reported its first case of swine flu. School will remain open.
In Lowell, Connolly said that each school in the city is providing their daily absences to the Health Department. They are not any larger than other year's at this time, but because of the publicity surrounding the swine flu people are more sensitive.
"Some people were pushing heavily to close the school, but the administration agreed with our recommendation not to," said Health Director Frank Singleton, adding that there was one possible case at the school, but the state is no longer conducting testing. "The Centers for Disease Control recommends only closing a school when the absences are so high that it can no longer adequately function. That has not happened here."
Swine flu cases continue to play out locally
By Jennifer Myers, jmyers@lowellsun.com
Updated: 06/06/2009 06:35:39 AM EDT
LOWELL -- Officials from the city's Health Department met with the faculty and staff of the Lowell Community Charter School Thursday to address concerns regarding the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu.
On Thursday 181 students were absent. Yesterday 161 did not show up for school. The school's enrollment is about 900 students.
"We are not really concerned about it," said Chris Connolly, public health nurse manager. "We met for two hours with the staff and they are right on track with what they need to do regarding educating people about proper hand washing, cough etiquette and keeping kids out of school for seven days in order to recover."
Meanwhile, Alvirne High in Hudson, N.H., yesterday reported its first case of swine flu. School will remain open.
In Lowell, Connolly said that each school in the city is providing their daily absences to the Health Department. They are not any larger than other year's at this time, but because of the publicity surrounding the swine flu people are more sensitive.
"Some people were pushing heavily to close the school, but the administration agreed with our recommendation not to," said Health Director Frank Singleton, adding that there was one possible case at the school, but the state is no longer conducting testing. "The Centers for Disease Control recommends only closing a school when the absences are so high that it can no longer adequately function. That has not happened here."