The Swine Flu has come to Oxford, but there’s no reason to panic.
On Monday, Superintendent Dr. William Skilling confirmed an eighth-grade student at Oxford Middle School was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the Swine Flu.
‘But the Centers for Disease Control does not recommend that we close school,? he said. ‘They’ve changed their course or position on this because they discovered that the Swine Flu virus isn’t as bad as they thought it originally to be. So, that’s why we’re not closing.?
The school’s last day will be Thursday, June 11 as scheduled.
OMS Principal Ken Weaver was informed of the Swine Flu diagnosis by the student’s parent at the end of the school day Friday.
‘The child appears to be doing quite well,? he wrote in a letter to parents sent home with students Monday. ‘The student appears to be suffering from symptoms very similar to an outbreak of the common flu and is expected to return to health.?
In order to prevent the further spread of the virus, ‘her doctor recommended quarantining the student at home,? Weaver noted.
Skilling indicated the student will not return to class for the remainder of the current school year.
Once school officials were alerted to H1N1 virus? presence, the maintenance staff sprang into action and immediately gave OMS a ‘more thorough? cleaning than the typical custodial duties.
‘They disinfected any areas the public’s likely to touch like hand rails, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, faucets and things like that,? Skilling said.
When asked if there were any other cases of Swine Flu in the school district prior to this, Skilling replied, ‘Not that we’re aware of.?
Symptoms consistent with the Swine Flu include ? fast breathing or difficulty breathing; bluish or gray skin color; severe or persistent vomiting; irritability; and flu-like symptoms that improve but return with a fever and worse cough.
Additional symptoms include not wanting to drink enough fluids, being difficult to wake and not interacting normally with others.