West Holmes schools to continue during major outbreak of flu cases
Health district treating cases like H1N1 virus
By Dave Mast
of The Holmes County Journal
October 21, 2009
736
With more than 100 students out of school at both West Holmes High School and West Holmes Middle School with flu-like symptoms, and a smaller yet significant number of students reportedly sick in East Holmes, it is apparent that the flu season has arrived. The question many are pondering is, is it the regular seasonal flu or the H1N1 virus?
According to Dr. DJ McFadden, Holmes County Health District commissioner, the type of illness isnt what matters most. What does matter is that families keep a close eye on their children, and that any symptoms be treated by family physicians if there is any doubt.
While the health department has been in constant contact with both school districts, they have not had any substantiated, positive proof that the current flu outbreak is H1N1.
We have had no confirmed H1N1 cases reported, although we know that there are a significant number of students out sick throughout the county, said McFadden. As of now, we have seen so many cases that we are assuming that the H1N1 is here (although not necessarily all of the flu cases are H1N1 related), and we are treating them as such, even though there is no proof yet that any of them have been H1N1.
Taking the safer route is something the health department stresses, telling concerned citizens that if they have a child who is showing signs of lethargy, confusion, turning blue, are having trouble breathing, appear dehydrated or have persistent vomiting, to have their child looked at by their family physician. In addition, have a child checked by a physician if they get sick, seem to get better and experience a second round of symptoms.
What many doctors throughout the county have done when determining a solution is not to test patients for H1N1 (a costly endeavor) but to instead treat it with Tamiflu, which has proven to successfully knock out both the common flu as well as H1N1.
McFadden said that there appears to be plenty of Tamiflu on hand in the county to supply whoever may need it.
As for rumors of West Holmes possibly closing school until the flu passes, superintendent Kris Pipes Perone said that the plan is for school to continue as normal, despite a large percentage of students being out with the flu.
We have stayed in close contact with Tom Eastep (West Holmes head school nurse), and we have been in constant contact with the Holmes County Health Department, and while the sickness of this many students is an inconvenience, we will continue to operate normally, unless it gets much worse, said Perone. We are asking that anyone exhibiting the symptoms of the flu stay at home and get plenty of rest, and see their family physician.
West Holmes has sent a letter home to parents describing what the immediate plans are and the best way to help fend off the flu, and the district has been very proactive in trying to educate the students and the community members about the flu. In the letter, the district advises families to wash hands frequently throughout the day, cover their coughs and suggests that anyone diagnosed, by a doctor, with possible H1N1 should stay home for five days and should not return to school or work until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication, such as Tylenol or Advil.
We want to be as safe and proactive on this issue as we can be, said Pipes Perone. This has obviously been a tough first couple of days to this week, but we dont want to take any chances, and we are asking anyone who has symptoms to stay at home. Weve had a great partnership with the health department during this time, and we are relying on their expertise to get through this.
McFadden said that people have become frustrated with whether or not what they or their family members have is H1N1 or the regular seasonal flu. He added that doctors have begun treating patients as though they have H1N1, despite not actually testing for it, and that he cant fault parents for being overly protective during this time.
If anyone has questions concerning the H1N1 virus, seasonal flu, symptoms or other related topics, they may call the health department hotline at 330-473-4255, where operators are on hand during department hours to answer questions, and taped information is available after hours.
Were not ahead of this flu yet, but we have known it was coming, so we have been prepared for this exact type of situation, said McFadden. We are continuing to get H1N1 doses in, although we are focusing on the population which is targeted, including pregnant women, child care providers who care for children younger than six months old, children and young adults from six months to 24 years of age, people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems and health care and emergency services personnel. The state has also begun distributing the H1N1 vaccine to the private sector, so people can check with their family doctors to see if they have any in stock.
McFadden suggests that if you have any questions, call your family physician, call the health department hotline, visit the health departments Web site at www.holmeshealth.org/h1n1, or go to the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
