Texas: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

HenryN · Jun 1, 2009

100 Kids Sick at
Mesquite School

Published : Monday, 01 Jun 2009, 6:20 PM CDT

MESQUITE, Texas - More than 100 children were absent from Range Elementary School in Mesquite Monday. Officials believe an outbreak of the season flu has hit the school.
According to school administrators, about 50 students stayed home from school on Friday and another 50 stayed home Monday. Administrators also sent about a dozen students home during the day Monday, they said.
The sick children all reported symptoms including fever, coughs, sore throats and sometimes vomiting.
The Dallas County Health Department is monitoring the situation and has sent tests to the lab. Currently officials blame seasonal flu rather than swine flu for the outbreak at the school.
The school was disinfected over the weekend and school administrators have advised parents to keep sick children and their siblings home for at least seven days.
They said they do not plan to close the school until it lets out for the summer on Thursday.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/education/100_Kids_Sick_at_Mesquite_Sch

HenryN · Jun 1, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

The likelihood of widespread seasonal flu in TX in June is VERY close to ZERO.

thebes · Jun 1, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Mesquite: Flu-like outbreak at elementary school keeps 100 students home

They say they don't "believe" it's swine flu, yet they're treating it like it's swine flu...

By Ann Marie Shambaugh, Staff Writer
(Created: Monday, June 1, 2009 4:25 PM CDT)

The end of the school year came a week early for Karen Thompson?s fifth-grade son. He is one of about 100 students missing school Monday at Range Elementary School in Mesquite because of a flu-like illness.

Mesquite ISD spokesman Ian Halperin said the illness is not believed to be swine flu, but it is spreading quickly and district officials are using extreme caution.

?This is something we?re trying to get control of,? Halperin said. ?This is more than just a simple flu outbreak, so it?s very important in this particular case we make sure that our kids are well before they return to school.?

The district sent a letter to parents Monday asking them to keep students with flu-like symptoms at home for seven days unless they return to school with a doctor?s note stating that influenza was not the cause of the illness. It must also provide an alternate diagnosis.

The district does not usually require students to bring a doctor?s note to school when returning to classes after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Officials said they are following the advice of the Dallas County Health Department.

Thompson said she was surprised by the new policy when she sent her son back to school Monday and he returned home because he did not have a doctor?s note.

?I don?t have insurance on my child, and I can?t afford $150 for a ? note,? Thompson said. ?For my son, his school year is over with and he can?t go back to school. I don?t think that?s right.?

Halperin suggested parents in Thompson?s situation contact the county health department.

?They might talk to the local county health officials and see if there is a place they can go,? he said. ?Unfortunately the district doesn?t have the ability to provide health care.?

The school year ends Thursday. Halperin said all flu-related absences are excused, and that they should cause too many problems at the elementary school level. The illness has not been reported at any other MISD campuses.

Thompson said she is upset that her son is being forced to miss the last bit of school work and end-of-the-year class parties.

The letter sent home to parents acknowledges that the requirements are stringent, but states that ?we must comply with the health department?s recommendations to ensure the health and welfare of all students.?

The entire Range campus was disinfected Friday afternoon as a precautionary measure.

http://www.scntx.com/articles/2009/06/01/mesquite_news/news/9535.txt

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Swine flu cases suspected among 100-plus sick from Mesquite school

[SIZE=-1]11:24 PM CDT on Monday, June 1, 2009

[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]By IAN McCANN and SHERRY JACOBSON / The Dallas Morning News
imccann@dallasnews.com
sjacobson@dallasnews.com[/SIZE]

More than 100 students stayed home from a Mesquite elementary school on Monday, including some that are probably stricken with swine flu, officials said.
If more than a few of the students have swine flu, as experts believe is the case, it could mark the largest concentration of the disease in North Texas since the virus emerged.
Dallas County health officials said they have not determined how many of the Range Elementary students ? nearly one in five ? actually are sick or what caused their illnesses. They say two positive flu cases are probably swine flu, and there are likely to be others.
"This is an opportunity to remind people, novel influenza hasn't gone away," said Dr. Wendy Chung, Dallas County's chief epidemiologist.
Fewer than three dozen of the school's 560 students were out sick Friday, but that number rose to 102 on Monday morning. Another 12 were sent home during the day.
Some students have been diagnosed with other illnesses, including strep throat. But many have flulike symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat and in some cases nausea.
School officials sent a note to parents Friday asking them to keep sick children at home, said Laura Jobe, a district spokeswoman. They sent a follow-up letter Monday.
"It apparently started in fifth grade, and we're seeing it spread to siblings," she said. "Friday was the day we saw the first significant symptoms."
Rapid tests confirmed two of the students have Type A influenza. The strain has not been determined, but about 86 percent of flu cases right now are swine flu, Chung said.
The response by officials is very different than in April, when schools throughout the state and nation were shut down after confirmed cases of swine flu. The difference, Chung said, is that health officials across the country know more about the disease now.
Swine flu has proved to be relatively mild, she said.
"It was prudent to be conservative," she said. "Now we view it the same way we do seasonable influenza."
Still, it is a potentially deadly disease. Nationally, 17 people have died from the disease and there have been more than 10,000 confirmed or probable cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chung said there are no firm percentages used to determine when to close a school, but CDC guidelines say that school closures are not recommended unless faculty or student absenteeism "interferes with the school's ability to function."
The fact that many schools are closing this week, and that schedules have been cut to half days, also influenced the decision to keep school open.
"When you wind down like that, there's less intense student contact," she said.
Though the school year is almost finished, Chung said, as summer recreation programs begin, the Mesquite cases serve as a reminder that the disease is still circulating.
Parents still need to take precautions, such as keeping a sick child home for at least a week to help prevent the disease's spread, she said.
"This novel virus is still circulating in the community," she said. "We are not out of the woods."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/healthscience/stories/060209dnmetsick.3b43bd0a.html

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Posted by Jody_Da_Drmr | 2 hours ago

and under the tips of what you should do, where it says...
Don't return too soon.

Parents should not send children back to school or summer programs too soon. Anyone with a probable case of flu should stay home at least seven days or 24 hours beyond the disappearance of symptoms, whichever is longer....

i wonder which is longer...hmm...7 days? or 24 hours...

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by Jody_Da_Drmr | 2 hours ago

this thing has more names than nowitski's ex girlfriend. goodness.

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by missyjax | 2 hours ago

Super Mom, people aren't laughing at sick kids. They're laughing at the overhyping of this.

The only significant issue is that we have a summer flu season, which is rare. The strain itself appears to be actually weaker than the typical flu strain that hits in January, but you'd never know it from all the hysteria!

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by rexyroo | 2 hours ago

ON THE NEWS BROADCAST LAST NIGHT.... THEY SAID IT WASNT SWINE FLU. MAKE UP YOUR MIND

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by whoisthatmaskedman | 3 hours ago

Pig Flu? Range Elementary?
Home, home on the Range
where the school should be all replaced
as old as it is
is just barerly still stands....

I can same that, I am an alumnist... I wonder if Ms Skudder is still there and still wears her lip stick up over her upper lip to make it look like a thicker lip than it is.

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by JulieB | 3 hours ago

super_mom: I'm with you.

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by super_mom | 4 hours ago

Y'all aren't funny. My son goes to Range, and he was sick all weekend. It's all fun & games until you are the one taking care of a sick child and hoping it's not passed to his baby sister. Grow up.

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by RIPTRACK | 4 hours ago

I think it's called, I don't want to go to school flu. Then the flu will become crypto here in a week or 2.

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by SSDirk | 11 hours ago

probably stricken.....SHUT UP with this nonsense about this pig flu crap. Truat me, we are not going to all die from whatever, make believe mess whomever has conjured up. So sick of just about everytime anyone gets sick, og my God, its the pig flu...just STIFLE IT ALL

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HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

<HR class=blueline>
Comments (21)
Posted by Rogue | 13 hours ago

WHY DON'T THEY JUST CALL IT WHAT IT IS?!!!
"SWINE FLU"!!!!

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by USA | 14 hours ago

They should take next week off.

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by ofnoimportance | 19 hours ago

It's June, TAKS was 4 weeks ago. Does anyone realllly care where students are now?

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by smartgirl73 | 20 hours ago

oink oink

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by lowderwife | 20 hours ago

yall are all funny! lol...... its mesquite

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by jerm9632 | 20 hours ago

i think these kids are a little ahead of themselves...senior skip day is quite a few years away for these youngsters...but hey, give em an A for effort and originality!

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by speakinwhatifeel | 20 hours ago

Fieldtrip to the Stockyards last week.

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by dirksbaby | 21 hours ago

ITS SWINE FLU!! BURN DOWN THE SCHOOL!!!

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by Pop | 21 hours ago

smartgirl73: Swine flu!!!! OMG disinfect all of Mesquite. If it saves one kid from getting sick then it's worth it!!! OMG

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<HR class=greyline>Posted by whoisthatmaskedman | 21 hours ago

I went to Range, I am certain it is the cafateria food

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Farmer · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

I am glad that they are identifying the virus now.

However, the comments indicate that communication to the public about the novel strain has been poor

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Farmer said:
I am glad that they are identifying the virus now.

However, the comments indicate that communication to the public about the novel strain has been poor

The reports go well beyond "poor" communication. When I saw this story (and the acompanying video claiming seasonal flu) I went to the Dallas website to see what thye were putting in writing. I was pleaseantly surprised by the detail provided on initial cases, which included daily updates in tables of local cases in the Dallas)

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=64><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 48pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl80 height=20 width=64>http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/documents/PressRelease5-1-09.pdf</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

However, the CDC announced that the virus was no worse than seasonal flu and there was no need to close schools. The numbers stopped going up a few days later

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=64><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 48pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=20 width=64></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE style="WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=64><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 48pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=20 width=64>http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/documents/PressRelease5-9-09.pdf</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
and were little changed at the end of the month

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 47pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=62><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 47pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2267" width=62><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 47pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=20 width=62>http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/documents/PressRelease5-27-09.pdf

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

niman said:
The reports go well beyond "poor" communication. When I saw this story (and the acompanying video claiming seasonal flu) I went to the Dallas website to see what thye were putting in writing. I was pleaseantly surprised by the detail provided on initial cases, which included daily updates in tables of local cases in the Dallas)

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=64><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 48pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl80 height=20 width=64>http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/documents/PressRelease5-1-09.pdf</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

However, the CDC announced that the virus was no worse than seasonal flu and there was no need to close schools. The numbers stopped going up a few days later

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=64><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 48pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=20 width=64></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE style="WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=64><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 48pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=20 width=64>http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/documents/PressRelease5-9-09.pdf</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
and were little changed at the end of the month

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 47pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=62><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 47pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2267" width=62><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 47pt; HEIGHT: 15pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=20 width=62>http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/documents/PressRelease5-27-09.pdf

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

While Dallas county was reporting virtually no cases for the second half of May, the state showed the number of Dallas county cases on May 22 jumped to 139 from 87.

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Today's upadte from Texas shows 2 confirmed cases in Dallas County since update from last Thursday.

Shiloh · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Source: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/160_Out_Sick_at_Mesquite_Scho

(To see video click on source link above)

160 Out Sick at Mesquite School

Published : Tuesday, 02 Jun 2009, 12:17 PM CDT

MESQUITE, Texas - The Dallas County Health Department now says two confirmed cases of flu at a Mesquite elementary school are not swine influenza, but a different, more common influenza.

160 youngsters and staffers stayed home from Range Elementary on Tuesday. About 100 students stayed out on Monday.

Administrators said on a normal day, only 10 to 20 students are absent.

They had disinfected the school when it became apparent that many students were becoming ill. Parents were also sent a notice asking them to keep sick children at home for at least seven days.

But after such poor attendance Tuesday, administrators decide to shut down the school for the year.

The last day of classes was supposed to be Friday.

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Idiotic report by reporters that don't know swine flu is influenza A. Media is beyond hopeless.

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Safety Update: Range Elementary Closure

Due to the increasing number of illness-related absences at Range Elementary, the school will be closed for the remainder of the week. Today will be the last day of this school year. Mesquite ISD officials made this decision in cooperation with the Dallas County Health Department in order to halt the spread of the illness. The Health Department reminds us that it is very important for parents to keep their children at home to limit any further exposure to the illness.
Report cards will be mailed the week of June 8, 2009. Student school supplies may be picked up and textbooks and library books may be returned on the following dates and times: Friday, June 5 from 8 a.m. ? 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 6 from 9 a.m. ? 12 p.m.; Monday, June 8 ? Thursday, June 11 from8 a.m. ? 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. ? 5 p.m.
This information applies to Range Elementary only.

http://www.mesquiteisd.org/

HenryN · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

If it was seasonal flu, wouldn't they SAY it was seasonal flu. Misinformation by popular press in high gear.

Dark Horse · Jun 2, 2009

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Re: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

niman said:
Idiotic report by reporters that don't know swine flu is influenza A. Media is beyond hopeless.

Yep. You got that right. Just wait.

HenryN · Jun 3, 2009

Re: Texas: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Mesquite ISD closes school after spate of absences, 5 confirmed flu cases

[SIZE=-1]11:50 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 2, 2009[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]By KAREL HOLLOWAY / The Dallas Morning News [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]kholloway@dallasnews.com [/SIZE]

Faced with growing absences and five confirmed cases of flu, Mesquite school officials decided Tuesday to end the school year early for Range Elementary School.
"We understand it's going to be hard for some parents," said Ian Halperin, a district spokesman. "I think there are going to be some parents who are disappointed, but there are going to be some parents who are going to be glad."
More than 160 students and a few teachers were absent Tuesday, and the school's clinic saw a higher than normal number of ill students, Halperin said. That marked a dramatic increase from Friday, when 35 students were out.
Also Online
Link: Swine flu survival guide

On Monday, 102 of the school's roughly 570 students were absent, and 12 more were sent home during the day.
Officials are presuming that confirmed cases of Type A influenza, which some of the students have been diagnosed with, are swine flu.
Cases of swine flu are triggering a different response than April, when health officials knew less about the virus. Swine flu has proved to be relatively mild.
Meanwhile, in Cedar Hill, about 60 students stayed home Monday from Plummer Elementary School. The school has had four confirmed flu cases, but officials there are not closing the school.
The number of absentees at Plummer dropped Tuesday, said Chris Santos, the district's emergency operations coordinator.
"We're having award ceremonies and parties and we are trying to maintain normalcy," Santos said.
Zachary Thompson, Dallas County's health department director, said his department has been monitoring both schools.
"This late in the season, I don't think we've ever seen this situation," Thompson said. "I don't recall ever having to talk about closing schools this late in the year."
Thompson said residents near the schools shouldn't be worried but they should be careful, washing their hands frequently and staying in if ill.
He said the department would monitor day care and recreation facilities, asking about children who may have come there and appeared sick.
A check of several day care centers near Range found few absences.
"We've had no kids out with a fever," said Sammie Chisen, at Kid Konnection near Range.
Halperin said the Mesquite district had not been able to confirm how many students at Range are truly ill and how many were being kept home by parents because of concern about the flu. Officials also don't know where the illness may have started.
A few parents had been concerned that fifth-graders may have contracted the flu at the Fort Worth Stockyards. The illness began among fifth-grade students shortly after the field trip.
Halperin said the district knew of no connection between the trip and the illness. And Vanassa Joseph, a spokeswoman with the Tarrant County Health Department, said there have no reports of problems at the stockyards.
Cedar Hill officials don't know where flu cases there may have begun. Santos said teachers first noticed the illness among fourth-graders last week. On Thursday, 27 fourth-graders – about 25 percent of the class – were absent.
The district began calling parents and found that several doctors had tested the children for flu. Four of the tests confirmed Type A influenza.
Thompson said his department will be working with school districts over the summer to set up a system to more closely monitor absences during the next school year.
"Going into flu season we really are going to enhance our school surveillance," he said.
D-FW SWINE FLU OUTBREAK TALLY

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="99%" bgColor=#000000><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>As of Tuesday, Texas health officials said there had been 1,499 confirmed cases of swine flu statewide since April 5. Hidalgo County, along the Mexico border, has had the most confirmed cases with 259. Tallies for some North Texas counties: </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>County </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>Confirmed cases </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Dallas </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>133 </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Tarrant </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>123 </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Denton </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>23 </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Collin </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>21 </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Wise </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>3 </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Ellis </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>1 </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Rockwall </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>1 </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=dwsmodule>Statewide </TD><TD class=dwsmodule>1,499 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/060209dnmetmesquite.407bc3e2.html

HenryN · Jun 4, 2009

Re: Texas: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

Late Tuesday afternoon, school custodians suited up and started sanitizing Range Elementary School in Mesquite. 6th grader Jessica Abbott says, "I was shocked when I found out all these students went home, and it was pretty bad."

The district today ordered Range closed for the rest of school year following an increasing number of illnesses among students and staff. Mesquite Independent School District Spokesperson Laura Jobe, says, "Really we just thought the best thing we could do at this point to stop the spread was to close school a little early."

The Dallas County Department of Health & Human Services says there are 5 confirmed flu cases and all have characteristics of swine flu, but haven't been lab confirmed.

America Adams' mom says better save that sorry. Maegan Adams says, "I think it's a good decision...if it's that many kids that are sick, I think it's okay."

The district says there were about 50 student absences Friday, mostly 5th graders. It jumped to 114 Monday and 160 today, including staff. Parent Jamie Platt agrees with the school closure, but says her 6th grade daughter is devastated at missing out on her graduation ceremony. Jamie Platt says, "She's crying. She's very upset. Very upset."

The district understands the emotion and says it was a tough decision to make but safety has to move to the head of the class and they hope parents will take over from here. District Spokesperson, Laura Jobe, says, "The best thing they can do is keep their students at home for the next couple of days because what we're really trying to do is limit the spread of the illness and if they're around a lot of other students, they may be spreading it further."

http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-mesquite-school-closure-kdaf,0,5489275.story

littlebird · Aug 3, 2009

Re: Texas: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

~ They know what it is. Texas is an agricultural state. They are tip-toeing around the issue because the folks who run that state have their own agenda. The mob is stupid. You say swine flu.......people quit eating pork. Most people were thinking (when this flu came out) that you actually catch it from pigs. Just because of its name. Texas will do everything it can to NOT call a pig, a pig. Notice that "Mexican flu" didn't catch on either, (Due to the fact that those are the people who pretty much run the slaughtering houses.)

Mesquite School won't say "swine flu" above a whisper...

Thousands of birds drop out of our skies every October due to nematodes and eating moldy corn, or drinking salt water by mistake...

The only lab in the U.S. that can officially report Bird Flu is owned by the Department Of Agricluture. All other labs will be proven wrong in their analysis.
When Bird flu hits our soil.... our poultry imports are banned. Currently we rule the world in imports.

People die of atypical pneumonia who work in poultry processing plants, and nobody knows about it.

Welcome to my world. :earth: <----- Science doesn't rule here, $ does.

and virtually EVERYONE who dies of Swine... oops, I mean Novel H1N1 has "Underlying chronic medical conditons." so.... don't worry.

http://www.txpeer.org/toxictour/swine.html

Texas: 100 Kids Sick at Mesquite School

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