Welcome to HickoryRecord.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

HickoryRecord.com - Hickory Daily Record

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Alexander school system confirms cases

Area schools work to prevent spread of swine flu.

Related Links

Catawba County Public Health Department

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: September 4, 2009

HICKORY - Some students in the Alexander County Schools system already have the H1N1 flu. To combat its spread, schools across the region are working to determine how students can avoid getting ill this school year.

"When we have students who are thought to have the H1N1 flu, we report it to the health department and the student's classroom is notified," said Renee Meade, director of public affairs for Alexander County Schools.

The school system has had two confirmed cases of H1N1, also known as swine flu, at Taylorsville Elementary, a probable case at Taylorsville Elementary and a probable case at Hiddenite Elementary School, Meade said.

Alexander County Health Department has only confirmed two cases at Taylorsville Elementary, Meade said.

School began Aug. 25. Three of the cases occurred over the weekend, and one happened Monday.

"We did an 'alert now' call to staff and parents to say there were suspected cases," she said. "Until someone goes to a doctor and is tested, they don't know for sure that it's what someone has. The confirmation doesn't come back immediately."

Area schools are making sure students and staff know what preventative measures to take. In Alexander County, staff has met with the health department, emergency services and other health officials to discuss the H1N1 virus. They've also participated in a Webinar with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on procedures. A letter sent home to parents the first day of school notified them the school system was prepared in case there were any cases.

"This is something we need to take seriously, but not panic and cause uproar over," Jeff Peal, assistant superintendent for Alexander County Schools, said in an e-mail. "As you know, we deal with flu issues every year. H1N1 is another strand of the flu."

Catawba County school systems also are prepared. That includes passing on all information from the CDC and the Catawba County Public Health Department.

"I've met with all three school systems to discuss the guidance from the CDC and the health department and information for prevention," said Lynne Laws, community health services nursing supervisor for the health department.

These measures include advising students and staff to cough or sneeze into their elbow, arm or sleeve instead of their hands if a tissue is unavailable, Laws said. The importance of hand washing also is stressed.

"If you're sick, see a nurse and be picked up from school if we see signs that call for it," Laws said. "Those include a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, a cough and an upper respiratory infection."

Laws is asking the schools in Catawba County to complete absenteeism sheets, tracking how many students are absent from school each day. At the end of the week, the forms will be sent to Laws so she can determine if there is a spike in the number of students absent and possibly getting sick.

"I also recommend the schools clean and sanitize the schools, but no more than they do already," Laws said.

Barry Redmond, superintendent for Newton-Conover City Schools, said the school system is being sanitary.

"The custodians are doing a thorough job of cleaning," he said. "They're told to use appropriate sanitizers regularly on the desks, doorknobs and other areas."

He said the schools are practicing good hygiene.

"We're prepared in the public school systems if there is a surge (in flu cases) to work with the systems and the state," Laws said. "I realize we'll have more sick children than normal, but we have measures in place."

Those measures include sending out updated information about the H1N1 virus to principals, administrators and the 23 school nurses who work among Newton-Conover City, Hickory Public and Catawba County Schools.

There also is an incident command system, which is a nationwide system, that's been in place for years, Laws said.

"Planning has taken place in case we need to activate it," she said.

The main thing people need to do is practice good hygiene and take proper precautions, Laws said. For more information, go to the health department Web site at www.catawbacountync.gov/phealth/.