Swine flu limited in local schools

Midlands districts report a few cases here and there, but no outbreaks

By CAROLYN CLICK - cclick@thestate.com

E-Mail

Print Reprint

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

Midlands school districts are reporting sporadic cases of influenza-like symptoms among students, but no significant clusters of swine flu.

In a survey of districts Wednesday, school officials said when individual schools are reporting cases, the numbers are small.

“We have not seen anything yet that would cause any great concern and parents are reacting the same way,” said Lexington-Richland 5 spokesman Buddy Price.

Flu and schools

Know the symptoms: Similar to regular seasonal flu, including fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, runny nose and lethargy. For otherwise healthy victims, swine flu symptoms often have been less severe than seasonal flu. Some have kicked the disease in three or four days, rather than the seven to nine days often required to beat seasonal flu.
When to keep your child home: If he or she has a fever of 100 degrees or higher and a cough or sore throat for which there is no known source, according to DHEC. In most cases, your child can return after being fever-free for at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.
Parents should make sure schools know how to reach them during the day, since students who exhibit flu-like symptoms at school must be sent home.
SOURCES: DHEC, CDC

“What we know is, yes, we have kids with flu and some confirmed cases of swine flu.”

DHEC is not tracking specific numbers of swine flu cases statewide but is asking schools to look for clusters through daily reports.

And, while the numbers are fluid, officials have reported no alarming spikes in cases.

On Wednesday, for example:

• In Lexington 1, 12 schools among the district’s 27 reported 35 cases of influenza-like illness, said spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill. The district has 21,898 students.

• In Richland 2, the Midlands’ largest district, 25 students out of more than 24,000 were reported to have influenza-like illness, said lead nurse Dawn MacAdams.

• In Richland 1, 48 students had influenza-like illness in its 49 schools, said Margie Moore, coordinator of nursing services. The district has more than 23,000 students.

• And in Lexington 3, three of the district’s four schools reported several students with flu-like symptoms, said Lisa Price, director of health services. The district has roughly 2,000 students.

Still, rumors of significant outbreaks continue to circulate.

Some school officials say they are having to tamp down fears about the spread of the swine flu virus, also known as H1N1 virus, even as they continue to educate families about precautions.

“We’ve tried to be proactive from the beginning,” Moore said. “If we have a school that has a student, even if it is just one student, with ILI (influenza-like illness) we send a note home with the parents,” saying the influenza-like illness is in the schools.

The sick student is also provided with a letter for parents or guardians that includes information requesting that the child not return to school unless he or she has been fever-free for 24 hours.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control has circulated a letter to parents through the school systems about the worldwide pandemic and advising ways to slow its spread.

Most S.C. counties have reported cases of swine flu, according to DHEC, and there has been one death attributed to it. The victim, a 12-year-old Midlands boy, suffered from a number of serious underlying medical conditions. He died Aug. 24.

DHEC has stressed that most cases will be mild and likely mirror seasonal flu.

Those on the front lines in school health rooms say they are feeling the brunt of the outbreak.

“It’s very difficult because we have to isolate the students, we have to observe them in isolation, and then we still have to see the student with a toothache, stomachache, backache, and those who said, ‘I fell,’” Moore said.

Among the area’s largest private schools, Heathwood Hall has documented 10 cases of influenza-like illness since the beginning of the academic year, all reported by parents to the school, said spokeswoman Kara Sproles Mock.

Hammond School reported seven cases of students ill with the flu, headmaster Chris Angel said Wednesday.

Reach Click at (803) 771-8386.

Get The State newspaper delivered to your home. Click here to subscribe.