Clear Lake Elementary has four confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus along with a higher-than-usual absentee rate.
Oxford Deputy Superintendent Nancy Kammer indicated the district was notified by parents that two kindergartners and two first-graders are infected with the H1N1 virus, which is commonly known as the swine flu.
‘They’re all doing pretty well,? she said. ‘There are no serious cases.?
As of Tuesday, the students were still not in school and won’t return until meeting the recommended health conditions issued by the Oakland County Health Division and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a letter sent home to Clear Lake parents on Friday, Oct. 30.
A variant of Influenza A, H1N1 (swine flu) is a viral infection of the respiratory system. This strain is a new type of flu that was first seen in humans in April 2009 and has symptoms very similar to the seasonal flu, according to the county Health Division website.
Kammer noted that H1N1 flu cases are being diagnosed based purely on symptoms consistent with the disease, not on tests.
‘The doctors now are just basically diagnosing on the symptoms,? Kammer said. ‘Typically, they are not sending those out to the labs for confirmation . . . They are treating all of these cases as if they were (the H1N1 flu virus).?
Symptoms of the flu include a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy noses, body aches, headache and feeling very tired. Some people may also experience diarrhea or vomiting.
Parents of sick children are urged to not send them to school and keep them at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
Any child determined to be sick at school will be sent home, according to the district.
It appears something is definitely going around Clear Lake as the absentee level is ‘a little higher? than usual.
On Monday, Kammer said Clear Lake’s absentee level was about 11 percent, whereas the normal rate is 5-6 percent.
The district’s other six schools seem to be doing fine.
‘I did check with our other buildings and absenteeism is at a normal rate,? Kammer said.
Cancellation of school may take place if absences increase to 25 percent on a district-wide basis, according to Kammer.
All of the schools are undergoing more thorough cleanings to prevent the spread of disease. ‘We’ve notified our maintenance staff and they are taking extra precautions,? Kammer said.
Increased sanitization efforts are being directed at ‘areas where there’s a lot of potential for spreading germs? such as restrooms, drinking fountains, doorknobs, etc.
Students are encouraged to wash their hands often with soap and water and not share personal items such as drinks, food or unwashed utensils. They’re also encouraged to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues or shirt sleeves.