Newberry school closes over Swine Flu concerns

[FourScore]

Source: AP

A private school in South Carolina has closed after some students returned from Mexico with flu-like symptoms.

Newberry Academy's decision to close Monday came as the number of suspected swine flu cases in Mexico climbed past 1,600 and death toll past 100. At least 11 cases has been confirmed in the U.S.

Newberry Academy officials said in a statement that seniors were in Mexico earlier this month and some had flu like symptoms when they returned. Calls to the school rang unanswered Monday.

State Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Jim Beasley said test results on the students could come back as early as Monday afternoon...



Read more: http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=292182

[ananda]

1. Why are schools closing?

When I was young, schools never closed for flu.

So what's the dynamic at play behind all these
closings?

Fear of lawsuits?

Or something else?

[Dreamer Tatum]

2. Maybe you should use your browser to browse the news

Swine flu is nothing to mess with. It's deadly and extremely contagious.

[ananda]

4. AFAIK, it's not deadly in the USA.

In fact, every case I've read about has
been rather mild.

[Dreamer Tatum]

5. Well that settles it, then.

Let's move on to something important.

[FourScore]

3. Fear of a pandemic. This is a new, deadly strain. n/t

[percussivemadness]

6. deadly virus? says who?

the overreaction on this board is simply breathtaking...

26 death cases have been attributed to swine flu, that`s all. what we don`t know is how many of those cases were as a result of human to human or pig to human transmittal.

examine the time line...there is something else going on here.

[AnneD]

8. Over 200 deaths in Mexico City alone....

I think there is reason for concern-and I am a School Nurse-on the front lines so to speak.

This is a new strain and has spread quickly. It is not a time for panic but a time to be careful and practice good hygiene. This stuff is spread by contaminated surface contact and air borne droplets-so take care. If you run a fever get to the Doc ASAP. If you are sick stay home and limit contact with others. It's just common sense.

[percussivemadness]

11. where are you getting this 200 figure from, last I heard, only 26 deaths were proven to be

directly attributed.

I`m not trying to be an ass here, but you making unsubstantiated statements makes you one huge ass.

[AnneD]

13. Let me clarify......

This info was what I got on a BBC reader comment on their blog site (which I can't find at the moment). The gentleman was a Doctor in Mexico City that had already lost 2 Doc friends. Frankly I trusted his comments over offical numbers. He said they were lowballing the numbers as the hospitals were overwhelmed. As a med person myself-I trusted his observation over government offical numbers. From the latest numbers-I think he was right and they are STILL low balling to prevent a panic.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021656.stm


Edited to add this..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/8018428.stm

and I quoted Dr Gregoria Davila-this was before the most recent Docs chimed in. The government will spin numbers as they want, but the Docs and Nurses are more concerned about saving lives-they'll tell you the truth.

[AnneD]

7. Schools have been closed in the past for various diseases.....

Just because you didn't experience it doesn't mean there isn't precedence. Before the advent of modern antibiotics-folks use to be quarantined to their homes by the health department. Try looking up Typhoid Mary. During the great pandemic of 1918 schools, theaters, and any activity that a large crowd would gather-was closed down. People have gotten so lax about public health and not exercising common sense in this country when it comes to communicable diseases-This can go from 0-60 million in a matter of months.

[Skink]

9. Lax about containing disease is right

They might stay home from school but they just have to go to the mall with a 102 temp.

[AnneD]

10. Most of the parents of my elementary kids...

give 'em a tylenol and send them on to school. We are nothing more than a glorified baby sitting service for some of these parents.

[Ms. Toad]

12. That, and schools reward students for never missing a day

Most schools encourage sick children to attend. In our district there is a perfect attendance breakfast every quarter for students who have not been tardy or absent. At the end of the year awards are given out - and there are additional awards given out for students who go multiple years without an absence.

Attendance is important - but rewarding students this prominently for never missing a day encourages Typhoid Mary and Mark to attend and share their Typhoid with their classmates.