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School officials report rise in student, employee absences
07:23 AM CDT on Friday, September 25, 2009
By Britney Tabor
Denton school officials this week reported an increase in the number of absences of students and some employees, possibly sick with the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu.
In a letter addressed to parents earlier this week, current and incoming health services directors Theresa Grant and Jonita Widmer wrote that while they believe some people are out with seasonal flu, others ?most likely have H1N1.? County health officials last week reported that 99 percent of specimens of flu being received throughout the state were in fact pandemic swine flu strains.
?We use the term ?most likely? because, even though many health care professionals are using the term ?confirmed for H1N1,? in reality, the confirmation lab test for that particular strain of flu is only being done on a very small number of people (mostly those who have been hospitalized) who have the signs and symptoms of the flu,? the letter stated.
Grant and Widmer brought a report and other swine flu updates before school board trustees in a Tuesday night board meeting. According to the Tuesday report, since the start of the day prior, nurses had sent a total of 134 students across the district home with fever and/or flu-like symptoms. Grant told board members that nurses at each campus will continue daily monitoring and surveillance of students with flu-like symptoms and are asked to report alarming numbers of students who are out sick.
Sharon Cox, district spokeswoman, said that as of Thursday campuses around the district were seeing an average absenteeism of 2 percent to 4 percent among students.
Strains of the flu among Denton students and staff have been mild to moderate with no significant or alarming illnesses seen, Grant said. Some students have had symptoms of low-grade fever and discomfort that have led them to miss an average of two to three days of school, she said.
For those sick with the flu, district officials are suggesting isolation from others, bed rest, recommended or prescribed medication, fluids and healthy nutrition.
Grant said Thursday that there?s no way of determining why the absences are increasing and that several factors could contribute to student absenteeism. Grant said that parents are encouraged to contact the school if their child is out sick with flu, but it?s not a requirement.
?The focus is on keeping schools open and safe and healthy,? Grant said. ?The most important thing that [parents] can do is keep their children home if they are ill, and practice good hand hygiene.?
District officials said that because of the districtwide concern regarding swine flu, weekly updates will be distributed online and in letters.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedconte...ries/DRC_schools-absences_0925.1b2ae5fef.html
07:23 AM CDT on Friday, September 25, 2009
By Britney Tabor
Denton school officials this week reported an increase in the number of absences of students and some employees, possibly sick with the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu.
In a letter addressed to parents earlier this week, current and incoming health services directors Theresa Grant and Jonita Widmer wrote that while they believe some people are out with seasonal flu, others ?most likely have H1N1.? County health officials last week reported that 99 percent of specimens of flu being received throughout the state were in fact pandemic swine flu strains.
?We use the term ?most likely? because, even though many health care professionals are using the term ?confirmed for H1N1,? in reality, the confirmation lab test for that particular strain of flu is only being done on a very small number of people (mostly those who have been hospitalized) who have the signs and symptoms of the flu,? the letter stated.
Grant and Widmer brought a report and other swine flu updates before school board trustees in a Tuesday night board meeting. According to the Tuesday report, since the start of the day prior, nurses had sent a total of 134 students across the district home with fever and/or flu-like symptoms. Grant told board members that nurses at each campus will continue daily monitoring and surveillance of students with flu-like symptoms and are asked to report alarming numbers of students who are out sick.
Sharon Cox, district spokeswoman, said that as of Thursday campuses around the district were seeing an average absenteeism of 2 percent to 4 percent among students.
Strains of the flu among Denton students and staff have been mild to moderate with no significant or alarming illnesses seen, Grant said. Some students have had symptoms of low-grade fever and discomfort that have led them to miss an average of two to three days of school, she said.
For those sick with the flu, district officials are suggesting isolation from others, bed rest, recommended or prescribed medication, fluids and healthy nutrition.
Grant said Thursday that there?s no way of determining why the absences are increasing and that several factors could contribute to student absenteeism. Grant said that parents are encouraged to contact the school if their child is out sick with flu, but it?s not a requirement.
?The focus is on keeping schools open and safe and healthy,? Grant said. ?The most important thing that [parents] can do is keep their children home if they are ill, and practice good hand hygiene.?
District officials said that because of the districtwide concern regarding swine flu, weekly updates will be distributed online and in letters.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedconte...ries/DRC_schools-absences_0925.1b2ae5fef.html