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Parents concerned after Ky. school closes due to H1N1 virus
08:32 AM EDT on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
WHAS11 coverage
Read the letter sent home to parents (pdf)
(WHAS11) -A Junction City, Ky. elementary school has shut its doors after learning that a student has tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
And in southern Indiana, the South Harrison School District tells WHAS11 News that two of their elementary students have the H1N1 virus.
It's not even flu season yet, which is why people are so concerned right now.
Typically flu season doesn't start until about October but one school has already closes because a student contracted the virus. This leaves many parents and the community wondering how this will affect the rest of the schoole year.
9-year-old PJ Hill said he is thinking about football now, but lately "playing defense" has not been about football, it's been about protecting himself from the H1N1 virus.
The South Harrison School District sent letters home Tuesday and that's how PJ's grandmother, Judy Gardner learned that two children in the district have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
"I?m a little concerned," Judy Gardner said.
Neyland Clark, Superintendent of the SHSD, also said he was concerned.
"I?m very concerned. I don't think there's any way that you cannot be concerned, but we're going to be very watchful," Clark said.
He said they may start screening students and staff when they show up for school, put desks farther apart and take other measures if the flu spreads.
In Kentucky, one school has already shut down for the week. Junction City Elementary School in Boyle County closed after a student tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Matthew Zahn, Metro Public Health and Wellness, said closing school is a typical reaction, but it may be excessive.
"Around the country there have been a lot of concern at the beginning of h1n1 in this country and schools have been closing because of that. We've got a lot of reassuring information at least so far, that while a lot of kids have gotten sick, not many kids have gotten seriously ill. That's what we've seen in Louisville, that's what we've seen around the state and around the country," Zahn said.
Back in South Harrison County, Judy Gardner said she doesn't plan to keep her grandson home from school, but she does plan to be more careful.
?Make sure they wash their hands as soon as they get home, keep sanitizer at home and ask them if they use it at school and things like that," Judy Gardner said.
The federal government is trying to manufacture enough H1N1 vaccine for everyone right now, but said they won't have enough by mid-October as they originally thought.
So while local governments are trying to prepare right now, they are just waiting to find out when there will be enough vaccine.
In the meantime, Governor Steve Beshear said he will be holding at statewide pandemic flu influenza summit in September to address this issue.
Parents concerned after Ky. school closes due to H1N1 virus
08:32 AM EDT on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
WHAS11 coverage
Read the letter sent home to parents (pdf)
(WHAS11) -A Junction City, Ky. elementary school has shut its doors after learning that a student has tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
And in southern Indiana, the South Harrison School District tells WHAS11 News that two of their elementary students have the H1N1 virus.
It's not even flu season yet, which is why people are so concerned right now.
Typically flu season doesn't start until about October but one school has already closes because a student contracted the virus. This leaves many parents and the community wondering how this will affect the rest of the schoole year.
9-year-old PJ Hill said he is thinking about football now, but lately "playing defense" has not been about football, it's been about protecting himself from the H1N1 virus.
The South Harrison School District sent letters home Tuesday and that's how PJ's grandmother, Judy Gardner learned that two children in the district have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
"I?m a little concerned," Judy Gardner said.
Neyland Clark, Superintendent of the SHSD, also said he was concerned.
"I?m very concerned. I don't think there's any way that you cannot be concerned, but we're going to be very watchful," Clark said.
He said they may start screening students and staff when they show up for school, put desks farther apart and take other measures if the flu spreads.
In Kentucky, one school has already shut down for the week. Junction City Elementary School in Boyle County closed after a student tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Matthew Zahn, Metro Public Health and Wellness, said closing school is a typical reaction, but it may be excessive.
"Around the country there have been a lot of concern at the beginning of h1n1 in this country and schools have been closing because of that. We've got a lot of reassuring information at least so far, that while a lot of kids have gotten sick, not many kids have gotten seriously ill. That's what we've seen in Louisville, that's what we've seen around the state and around the country," Zahn said.
Back in South Harrison County, Judy Gardner said she doesn't plan to keep her grandson home from school, but she does plan to be more careful.
?Make sure they wash their hands as soon as they get home, keep sanitizer at home and ask them if they use it at school and things like that," Judy Gardner said.
The federal government is trying to manufacture enough H1N1 vaccine for everyone right now, but said they won't have enough by mid-October as they originally thought.
So while local governments are trying to prepare right now, they are just waiting to find out when there will be enough vaccine.
In the meantime, Governor Steve Beshear said he will be holding at statewide pandemic flu influenza summit in September to address this issue.
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