Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=10362
October 27, 2009
10/27/2009 8:00:00 AM
A Vilas County Public Health Department notice (top) explained why the doors were closed at 470-student Lac du Flambeau Public School Oct. 23-25. Eric A. Johnson photo
Suspected H1N1 outbreak prompts closure of LdF Public School
Influenza-like illness symptoms spike district?s absence rate to 31.9 percent
Eric Johnson
Reporter
Mirroring experiences in a growing number of Wisconsin communities including Medford, Crandon and Wisconsin Dells, a suspected H1N1 "swine flu" influenza outbreak at 470-student Lac du Flambeau Public School - and throughout the 3,299-resident Lac du Flambeau community - spurred the school's temporary closure late last week.
Pursuant to Section 252.02(3) of the Wisconsin Statutes, Vilas County public health officer Gina Egan Oct. 22 ordered Lac du Flambeau Public School closed from Oct. 23-25 due to a high prevalence of influenza-like illness in the community.
Copies of the closure order, posted on the school's exterior entry doors, were distributed to Lac du Flambeau Public School superintendent Dr. Larry W. Ouimette, Vilas County corporation counsel Martha M. Milanowski, Vilas County board chairman Steve Favorite, Vilas County sheriff John Niebuhr, Vilas County Emergency Management director Jim Galloway, Vilas County Public Health Committee chairman Ron DeBruyne and Terri Timmers, regional director for the Wisconsin Department of Public Health's Rhinelander-based Northern Region.
In recent weeks, many individual schools and even entire school districts have been closed across the state as the number influenza-like illnesses, including suspected H1N1 flu cases, continues to rise to unusually high levels, sometimes into the 30-40 percent absenteeism range.
Spread easily from person to person, H1N1 influenza virus is widespread in Wisconsin, and currently present in 52 of the state's 72 counties. Most H1N1 infections in the state have been mild to moderate in nature. Fully 99 percent of circulating virus found in testing is H1N1 strain.
If high rates of student or staff absenteeism make it difficult for schools to operate, current guidance from state education and health officials is that a limited school closure may be the best option to decrease exposure to influenza.
In most cases, the decision to close schools is a joint decision made by local health departments and school administrators in consultation with the state.
Such was the case with the last week's decision to enact a temporary closure of Lac du Flambeau Public School.
In consultation with the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH), officials with Lac du Flambeau Public School, Peter Christensen Health Center (PCHC) and the Vilas County Public Health Department made a joint Thursday afternoon decision to close Lac du Flambeau Public School from Oct. 23-25, with a planned Monday, Oct. 26 reopening.
The closure order included the Friday school day and all public gatherings at Lac du Flambeau Public School, including co-curricular and athletic activities.
"The county health officer is closing the Lac du Flambeau School District Friday through Sunday due to the high number of cases of influenza-like illness activity in the Lac du Flambeau community," Ouimette told The Lakeland Times. "We thought it best to shut down school for a couple days."
Ouimette said the decision was spurred by the rising high incidence of influenza-like illness at the school, including suspected H1N1 cases. After logging a 121-student, 25.7 percent absence rate Tuesday, Oct. 20, absences at Lac du Flambeau Public School spiked to nearly 32 percent Wednesday, Oct. 21, when 150 were logged, 140 of which were recorded as influenza-like illnesses.
While the student absence rate dipped to 125 students or 26.6 percent Thursday, Oct. 22, Ouimette noted that staff absenteeism was starting to rise, with 10 of the school's 65 professional and 34 non-certified staff members out sick.
Additionally, Ouimette said the Lac du Flambeau Tribe's Peter Christensen Health Center was seeing "growing numbers" of influenza-like illness.
Vilas County Public Health Department nurse Pam Pedersen, the county's public health preparedness coordinator, said that while the school is showing the most extreme case in the county with its "huge leap" in absenteeism, several other county school districts have also seen spikes in absenteeism involving influenza-like illnesses, including Arbor Vitae-Woodruff School in the Lakeland area and Northland Pines Middle School and Northland Pines High School in Eagle River.
"There's a lot of stuff going around ...," she said, including suspected H1N1 infections, colds and a number of other influenza-like viruses.
After conferring with Ouimette, school principal Ron Grams and PCHC officials, Pedersen said the decision was made to temporarily close the school to stop the further spread of illness.
In addition to the large absentee rate at Lac du Flambeau, Pedersen said another major consideration in the decision for the temporary school closure was the large number of infectious sick students attending school, putting classmates and school staff at increased risk for contracting H1N1, colds or other influenza-like viruses.
"A lot of kids were showing up at the school, sick with fever," she noted. "We encourage parents - if your kids are sick with fever and coughing, keep them at home."
Trying to proactively head off the growing H1N1 threat this fall, Ouimette said custodial staff have kept busy sanitizing high contact items around the school, in addition to their regular duties, in an attempt to slow the spread of germs and illness.
Ouimette told The Times that the school's non-salaried employees would be paid for the school closure day on Friday, Oct. 23. If the day is later made up, hourly employees will not receive additional compensation.
With classes at the school scheduled to have resumed Monday, Oct. 26, in time for state-mandated Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) student academic proficiency testing, the evolving situation at the school will be evaluated by school, the county public health department and PCHC officials, in consultation with the Wisconsin DPH.
"We'll monitor the situation as we go and re-evaluate," Ouimette said.
In the neighboring 180-student North Lakeland School District, superintendent Richard Vought reported that there had been five illness-related absences Thursday, Oct. 22, largely for strep throat, a contagious infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. An additional two children were sent home ill over the course of the day.
"It's hitting us a little bit," Vought said of suspected H1N1 infections, colds and other influenza-like viruses. "We're not getting the number our neighbors are getting, but I'm sure it's coming. It seems to be hitting the children particularly hard. This swine flu thing's got me concerned. It's gonna run its course ..."
At North Lakeland, Vought said the school is trying to be proactive, hiring additional custodial help to clean high traffic areas and high-contact surfaces.
"We're cleaning as much as we can," he said.
Vought said the district, which has already installed hand sanitizer dispensers, has been trying to secure additional supplies of hand sanitizer with limited success, given a recent run on supplies.
"We're trying to get more hand sanitizer but everybody's out of it," he said.
CDC reports "widespread" influenza infection across U.S.
According to the latest information available from the federal government's Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the week ended Oct. 17, influenza is "widespread" across the nation and illness, hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase, with 46 states widespread influenza and four reporting either regional or local outbreaks.
Illness guidelines
To avoid spreading illness, the Vilas County Public Health Department advises that individuals with influenza-like illness (fever, with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not go out into the community, except to seek medical care, until 24 hours after their fever has subsided without the use of Tylenol or other fever-reducing medications.
Persons exhibiting a fever are still contagious.
Persons having asymptomatic contacts with ill patients, including those with probable or confirmed H1N1 virus, are not restricted in their activities in the community. However, they are urged to assess their own health frequently. Should they become ill, they should immediately be subject to the same restrictions as outlined above for ill persons.
Tips for protection
The health department suggests a number of ways to stay healthy and protect yourself and those around you from getting the flu and other influenza-like illnesses.
Suggestions include:
? Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
? Staying home when you're sick or have flu symptoms.
? Staying away from people who are sick.
? Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or coughing into your upper sleeve.
? Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
? Frequently washing commonly-contacted surfaces.
? Eating nutritious meals, getting plenty of rest and not smoking.
Additional information may be found at the Vilas County Health Department's website, www.vilaspublichealth.com, or on the Wisconsin Division of Public Health website, www.pandemic.wisconsin.gov.
You may also place a free and confidential "211" call for information on the H1N1 virus, including prevention tips and community resources.
Supported by United Way, community foundations, hospitals, local governments and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the 211 service is available throughout Wisconsin 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Flu shot updates
Pedersen said the county health department is in possession of a "very limited amount" of the newly-released H1N1 flu vaccine, which is being prioritized for health care workers and emergency medical first responders, as well as other target priority groups.
Vilas County's slate of seasonal flu shot clinics were recently suspended when the amount of flu vaccine was outstripped by strong public demand.
While it is unknown when the seasonal flu clinics will resume, Pedersen said receipt of additional supplies of seasonal flu vaccine is expected in November.
Eric Johnson can be reached at ejohnson@lakelandtimes.com.
October 27, 2009
10/27/2009 8:00:00 AM
A Vilas County Public Health Department notice (top) explained why the doors were closed at 470-student Lac du Flambeau Public School Oct. 23-25. Eric A. Johnson photo
Suspected H1N1 outbreak prompts closure of LdF Public School
Influenza-like illness symptoms spike district?s absence rate to 31.9 percent
Eric Johnson
Reporter
Mirroring experiences in a growing number of Wisconsin communities including Medford, Crandon and Wisconsin Dells, a suspected H1N1 "swine flu" influenza outbreak at 470-student Lac du Flambeau Public School - and throughout the 3,299-resident Lac du Flambeau community - spurred the school's temporary closure late last week.
Pursuant to Section 252.02(3) of the Wisconsin Statutes, Vilas County public health officer Gina Egan Oct. 22 ordered Lac du Flambeau Public School closed from Oct. 23-25 due to a high prevalence of influenza-like illness in the community.
Copies of the closure order, posted on the school's exterior entry doors, were distributed to Lac du Flambeau Public School superintendent Dr. Larry W. Ouimette, Vilas County corporation counsel Martha M. Milanowski, Vilas County board chairman Steve Favorite, Vilas County sheriff John Niebuhr, Vilas County Emergency Management director Jim Galloway, Vilas County Public Health Committee chairman Ron DeBruyne and Terri Timmers, regional director for the Wisconsin Department of Public Health's Rhinelander-based Northern Region.
In recent weeks, many individual schools and even entire school districts have been closed across the state as the number influenza-like illnesses, including suspected H1N1 flu cases, continues to rise to unusually high levels, sometimes into the 30-40 percent absenteeism range.
Spread easily from person to person, H1N1 influenza virus is widespread in Wisconsin, and currently present in 52 of the state's 72 counties. Most H1N1 infections in the state have been mild to moderate in nature. Fully 99 percent of circulating virus found in testing is H1N1 strain.
If high rates of student or staff absenteeism make it difficult for schools to operate, current guidance from state education and health officials is that a limited school closure may be the best option to decrease exposure to influenza.
In most cases, the decision to close schools is a joint decision made by local health departments and school administrators in consultation with the state.
Such was the case with the last week's decision to enact a temporary closure of Lac du Flambeau Public School.
In consultation with the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH), officials with Lac du Flambeau Public School, Peter Christensen Health Center (PCHC) and the Vilas County Public Health Department made a joint Thursday afternoon decision to close Lac du Flambeau Public School from Oct. 23-25, with a planned Monday, Oct. 26 reopening.
The closure order included the Friday school day and all public gatherings at Lac du Flambeau Public School, including co-curricular and athletic activities.
"The county health officer is closing the Lac du Flambeau School District Friday through Sunday due to the high number of cases of influenza-like illness activity in the Lac du Flambeau community," Ouimette told The Lakeland Times. "We thought it best to shut down school for a couple days."
Ouimette said the decision was spurred by the rising high incidence of influenza-like illness at the school, including suspected H1N1 cases. After logging a 121-student, 25.7 percent absence rate Tuesday, Oct. 20, absences at Lac du Flambeau Public School spiked to nearly 32 percent Wednesday, Oct. 21, when 150 were logged, 140 of which were recorded as influenza-like illnesses.
While the student absence rate dipped to 125 students or 26.6 percent Thursday, Oct. 22, Ouimette noted that staff absenteeism was starting to rise, with 10 of the school's 65 professional and 34 non-certified staff members out sick.
Additionally, Ouimette said the Lac du Flambeau Tribe's Peter Christensen Health Center was seeing "growing numbers" of influenza-like illness.
Vilas County Public Health Department nurse Pam Pedersen, the county's public health preparedness coordinator, said that while the school is showing the most extreme case in the county with its "huge leap" in absenteeism, several other county school districts have also seen spikes in absenteeism involving influenza-like illnesses, including Arbor Vitae-Woodruff School in the Lakeland area and Northland Pines Middle School and Northland Pines High School in Eagle River.
"There's a lot of stuff going around ...," she said, including suspected H1N1 infections, colds and a number of other influenza-like viruses.
After conferring with Ouimette, school principal Ron Grams and PCHC officials, Pedersen said the decision was made to temporarily close the school to stop the further spread of illness.
In addition to the large absentee rate at Lac du Flambeau, Pedersen said another major consideration in the decision for the temporary school closure was the large number of infectious sick students attending school, putting classmates and school staff at increased risk for contracting H1N1, colds or other influenza-like viruses.
"A lot of kids were showing up at the school, sick with fever," she noted. "We encourage parents - if your kids are sick with fever and coughing, keep them at home."
Trying to proactively head off the growing H1N1 threat this fall, Ouimette said custodial staff have kept busy sanitizing high contact items around the school, in addition to their regular duties, in an attempt to slow the spread of germs and illness.
Ouimette told The Times that the school's non-salaried employees would be paid for the school closure day on Friday, Oct. 23. If the day is later made up, hourly employees will not receive additional compensation.
With classes at the school scheduled to have resumed Monday, Oct. 26, in time for state-mandated Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) student academic proficiency testing, the evolving situation at the school will be evaluated by school, the county public health department and PCHC officials, in consultation with the Wisconsin DPH.
"We'll monitor the situation as we go and re-evaluate," Ouimette said.
In the neighboring 180-student North Lakeland School District, superintendent Richard Vought reported that there had been five illness-related absences Thursday, Oct. 22, largely for strep throat, a contagious infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. An additional two children were sent home ill over the course of the day.
"It's hitting us a little bit," Vought said of suspected H1N1 infections, colds and other influenza-like viruses. "We're not getting the number our neighbors are getting, but I'm sure it's coming. It seems to be hitting the children particularly hard. This swine flu thing's got me concerned. It's gonna run its course ..."
At North Lakeland, Vought said the school is trying to be proactive, hiring additional custodial help to clean high traffic areas and high-contact surfaces.
"We're cleaning as much as we can," he said.
Vought said the district, which has already installed hand sanitizer dispensers, has been trying to secure additional supplies of hand sanitizer with limited success, given a recent run on supplies.
"We're trying to get more hand sanitizer but everybody's out of it," he said.
CDC reports "widespread" influenza infection across U.S.
According to the latest information available from the federal government's Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the week ended Oct. 17, influenza is "widespread" across the nation and illness, hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase, with 46 states widespread influenza and four reporting either regional or local outbreaks.
Illness guidelines
To avoid spreading illness, the Vilas County Public Health Department advises that individuals with influenza-like illness (fever, with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not go out into the community, except to seek medical care, until 24 hours after their fever has subsided without the use of Tylenol or other fever-reducing medications.
Persons exhibiting a fever are still contagious.
Persons having asymptomatic contacts with ill patients, including those with probable or confirmed H1N1 virus, are not restricted in their activities in the community. However, they are urged to assess their own health frequently. Should they become ill, they should immediately be subject to the same restrictions as outlined above for ill persons.
Tips for protection
The health department suggests a number of ways to stay healthy and protect yourself and those around you from getting the flu and other influenza-like illnesses.
Suggestions include:
? Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
? Staying home when you're sick or have flu symptoms.
? Staying away from people who are sick.
? Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or coughing into your upper sleeve.
? Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
? Frequently washing commonly-contacted surfaces.
? Eating nutritious meals, getting plenty of rest and not smoking.
Additional information may be found at the Vilas County Health Department's website, www.vilaspublichealth.com, or on the Wisconsin Division of Public Health website, www.pandemic.wisconsin.gov.
You may also place a free and confidential "211" call for information on the H1N1 virus, including prevention tips and community resources.
Supported by United Way, community foundations, hospitals, local governments and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the 211 service is available throughout Wisconsin 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Flu shot updates
Pedersen said the county health department is in possession of a "very limited amount" of the newly-released H1N1 flu vaccine, which is being prioritized for health care workers and emergency medical first responders, as well as other target priority groups.
Vilas County's slate of seasonal flu shot clinics were recently suspended when the amount of flu vaccine was outstripped by strong public demand.
While it is unknown when the seasonal flu clinics will resume, Pedersen said receipt of additional supplies of seasonal flu vaccine is expected in November.
Eric Johnson can be reached at ejohnson@lakelandtimes.com.