Swine flu cases reported

By Bob Belcher and Janet Jacobs

Daily Sun

At least three confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza — also known as Swine Flu — have been reported in Navarro County over the past week, with one of those at Mildred ISD.

Dr. Kent Rogers, medical director of the Corsicana/Navarro County Health Department, said he was told of two positive tests for H1N1 Influenza, tests that were confirmed by a private testing lab. The Daily Sun learned of a third confirmed case from the parent of a child who contracted the illness.

Health care providers have seen a number of cases over the last two weeks with patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms, Rogers said, adding that August is “a little early” to be seeing the onset of seasonal Influenza.

“There have been a number, 10 to 20, that I’m personally aware of that really sounds like that’s what it is,” Rogers said. “They screen positive for Influenza-A on the nasal swab, but since we can’t send them off for (state) testing, they’ve been treating them with Tamiflu.”

Officials at Mildred ISD said the case there was tested locally, and while it might not be H1N1, they’re treating it as such.

“If a child comes down with the symptoms, all the children in that family need to stay home for five days,” said Becky Burns, assistant superintendent. “This morning, we did send home the other kids in that family, they were showing signs.”

The school has a prepared letter to parents, but Burns said that she won’t send it until there are more cases than just the one.

“We’re not panicked, and we’re not going to,” she said.

The janitorial staff is wiping down all frequently touched surfaces, such as drinking fountains, throughout the day, and educators are urging hand-washing and other precautions.

“We’re going to watch and respond accordingly,” Burns said. “We’re going to do everything we can to take care of kids and educate parents about what they can do to take care of their families.”

The county’s other school districts haven’t seen any signs of H1N1.

School officials in Rice, Blooming Grove, Kerens, Frost and Corsicana said they hadn’t received any reports of swine flu cases amongst children in those districts.

“We haven’t heard anything at all,” said Melanie Dotson, Dawson school nurse. “We’ll do the flu shots and things we do every year, and our cleaning people are still doing their thing on a daily basis. We’ve been fortunate. We started the school year off rather well, and we’re hoping it will remain the same.”

“We’re going to be very proactive as far as informing parents,” said Rob Ludwig, spokesman for Corsicana ISD.

The goal is to dispel any false rumors, and give parents as much information as possible, Ludwig explained.

As of Aug. 1, the state no longer requires the reporting of H1N1, nor is the state doing anymore testing for it, although all cases of flu should be reported to the health department as a matter of course, said Emily Carroll, of the Corsicana/Navarro County Health Department.

The drug Tamiflu has been used in both the treatment of H1N1 Influenza, as well as given to those who have been exposed to lessen the chance of the virus infecting them.

Physicians that see patients with flu-like symptoms can do a nasal swab test for influenza, and based on a positive test can submit the sample for H1N1 screening to private medical labs, Rogers said.

This is just another strain of flu,” said Sharon Thomas, a nurse with Navarro County Emergency Management. “I don’t think this has been as bad as regular seasonal flu so far. Some 36,000 people in the United States die of regular seasonal flu each year.”

Vaccines for the H1N1 Influenza are not expected to be distributed to health care providers in Texas until Oct. 15, according to Rogers. Vaccines for seasonal Influenza are due for distribution to local health care providers Sept. 1, although some physicians have already received the seasonal vaccine, Rogers said.

With both H1N1 and seasonal Influenza, the best recommendation to help avoid becoming infected is frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting flu-like symptoms, Rogers said. People who are sick should stay home, children with symptoms should be kept home from school, and “cover your cough,” Carroll said.

Federal health officials recently relaxed previous recommendations to school officials on dealing with H1N1 Influenza, including shortening the length of time an infected individual needs to stay away from the classroom, and less stringent guidelines on the closure of campuses.

Officials at Texas Christian University last week reported 30 students were suffering from flu-like symptoms, with 10 of those cases confirmed as H1N1 Influenza.

Local school officials in Texas, which reported some of the first U.S. cases and the first deaths attributed to the virus, can decide to close a school if students or staff become ill, but schools will not automatically be closed as they were last April when the virus first emerged.

The H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu, emerged in spring as a new strain of flu that worried public health officials because vaccines were unavailable and humans lacked natural immunity to the disease.

The first vaccine for swine flu will be distributed to states by population and should go to people considered most vulnerable to the disease: school-age children, people chronic health conditions and pregnant women.

State Education Commissioner Robert Scott said the state will work with any schools that decide to close because of an outbreak. It will assist them with funding and logistics, and state officials have arranged to ensure students who qualify for free meals can continue to get them if a school closes because of an outbreak.

Scott urged parents to keep their children home if they are suffering flu symptoms, which include fever, cough, sneezing, chills, aches and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.

"This is not the year to be worried about the perfect attendance award," Scott said. "If you're ill, stay home."

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