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More Schools Close Amid Flu Symptoms
More Schools Close Amid Flu Symptoms
Illness Closes Two Baltimore County Schools
POSTED: 12:12 pm EST March 10, 2006
UPDATED: 12:53 pm EST March 10, 2006
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. -- Flu outbreaks have forced schools in several states to close.
Schools in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maryland canceled classes this week after students and staff were hit by the flu bug.The flu forced a second Baltimore-area Catholic school to shut down this week, reported WBAL-TV in Baltimore.
Baltimore County school officials said it seems like the flu bug has shown a bit late in the year.
"I have been sending a little bit more (students) home than usual; however, (on Thursday), our percentage of students present is 94 percent," said Kathy Jankowiak, a nurse at Middle River Middle School.
A slow but steady stream of students showed up in the nurse's suite Thursday, and their complaints started to sound familiar.
"We're really hearing two things: a stomach bug that's been going around pretty much since December, and recently, we're hearing a little bit more of the fever, cough and cold symptoms," said Debbie Summerville, the district's coordinator of health services.
Administrators at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart School shut down the campus earlier this week, and a few days later, Towson Catholic also closed because so many students called out sick.
County school health officials said parents should keep their children home if they have symptoms that include fever, diarrhea or vomiting.
"We do make morning announcements telling children what to look for if they're feeling ill and we also really stress that they do good hand-washing, and that is one of the most important things, that children are washing their hand three or four times a day," Jankowiak said.
Administrators said hand-washing is a safe start in helping to keep more students in school.
"We're hoping that it's not going come next week because, next week, (Maryland School Assessment) testing begins, and we don't want it in our air," Middle River Middle School Principal Donna Viachos said.
In Wisconsin, a flu outbreak forced the Waukesha School District to close Horning Middle School on Friday.
There are more than 600 students who attend Horning, and on Thursday, 248 of those students and 17 faculty members were out sick.
Friday morning, the custodial staff was scheduled to thoroughly wipe down the school, cleaning desks, lockers and anything else that could spread the flu.
Illness Closes Two Baltimore County Schools
POSTED: 12:12 pm EST March 10, 2006
UPDATED: 12:53 pm EST March 10, 2006
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. -- Flu outbreaks have forced schools in several states to close.
Schools in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maryland canceled classes this week after students and staff were hit by the flu bug.The flu forced a second Baltimore-area Catholic school to shut down this week, reported WBAL-TV in Baltimore.
Baltimore County school officials said it seems like the flu bug has shown a bit late in the year.
"I have been sending a little bit more (students) home than usual; however, (on Thursday), our percentage of students present is 94 percent," said Kathy Jankowiak, a nurse at Middle River Middle School.
A slow but steady stream of students showed up in the nurse's suite Thursday, and their complaints started to sound familiar.
"We're really hearing two things: a stomach bug that's been going around pretty much since December, and recently, we're hearing a little bit more of the fever, cough and cold symptoms," said Debbie Summerville, the district's coordinator of health services.
Administrators at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart School shut down the campus earlier this week, and a few days later, Towson Catholic also closed because so many students called out sick.
County school health officials said parents should keep their children home if they have symptoms that include fever, diarrhea or vomiting.
"We do make morning announcements telling children what to look for if they're feeling ill and we also really stress that they do good hand-washing, and that is one of the most important things, that children are washing their hand three or four times a day," Jankowiak said.
Administrators said hand-washing is a safe start in helping to keep more students in school.
"We're hoping that it's not going come next week because, next week, (Maryland School Assessment) testing begins, and we don't want it in our air," Middle River Middle School Principal Donna Viachos said.
In Wisconsin, a flu outbreak forced the Waukesha School District to close Horning Middle School on Friday.
There are more than 600 students who attend Horning, and on Thursday, 248 of those students and 17 faculty members were out sick.
Friday morning, the custodial staff was scheduled to thoroughly wipe down the school, cleaning desks, lockers and anything else that could spread the flu.