H1N1 Flu Keeps Students Home From School

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Topics: Education, Health
Download  RSS  Short URL  Share

Northeast Ohio Schools are feeling the increase in flu cases, most suspected of being the H1N1 virus that's been confirmed in communities across the country. Ideastream's Bill Rice reports.

Terry Allan of the Cuyahoga County Department of Health says he’s hearing sporadic reports of spikes in school absences due to flu.  In Cuyahoga County, The Private University School has closed its high school campus in Hunting Valley until Friday.  School sources put the number of students absent Tuesday at about 140 out of a total of 415.

Elmwood Elementary School in Garfield Heights was closed on Tuesday but reopened Wednesday.  And Avon Lake in Lorain County has upwards of 200 high school students out sick, but Superintendent Robert Scott says there are no plans at this time to close the school. 

Allen says districts are encouraged to stay open, but they make those decisions at their discretion.  He says parents of schoolchildren should plan ahead for their child possibly becoming ill. 

Allen:  “Certainly they should be making contingency plans, and we’re also hoping that employers understand that there may be a need for parents to be there for their children, and to be part of the solution in trying to prevent transmission from expanding in the community by allowing them to stay home when they’re ill or when their kids are ill.”

Allen says flu viruses are unpredictable, but there’s one thing that’s known for sure:  this flu season is going to be far longer than usual. 

Bill Rice, 90.3.