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Sarah Connor
Rear Admiral
Joined: 10 Jul 2003
Posts: 3644
Location: Kentucky
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 Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:23 pm Illness forces closure of Schools ((My schools!!)) |
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| Quote: | HENDERSON, Ky. � The Henderson County School District will close its schools for the remainder of this week because of an outbreak of the flu and other illnesses, school officials decided Tuesday.
About 880 students were out of school Tuesday, reducing the school's average daily attendance to about 86 percent. |
Story from Yesterday:
| Quote: | There's an outbreak of flu and other illnesses in Henderson County, but whether those ailments will become significant enough to close schools isn't yet clear.
"We're monitoring the numbers and playing it by ear," Deputy School Superintendent Tom Hurt said Monday, reporting that districtwide attendance was down to 88 percent. The average daily attendance rate is 94 percent.
"If it gets below 85 percent we'll have to take a look at (the possibility of canceling school)," Hurt said, "but that's not saying we'll call it off. There's no magic number for calling off school."
It has been at least 10 years, he said, since sicknesses have been prevalent enough to prompt any discussion of school closure here.
There is considerable disparity in school attendance in the district, he said. "Niagara is at 94 percent (Monday) and Spottsville is at 83 percent."
Spottsville Elementary started the day last Friday at about 88 percent attendance, Hurt said, and 42 students were sent home throughout that day with illnesses. On Monday, Spottsville began the day with 74 students absent, and had sent home another 18 before noon.
Though the 74 absent students were said to represent a mix of ailments, the 18 who went home Monday morning all were reportedly displaying flu-like symptoms.
South Middle School had 82 percent attendance the first thing Monday morning, and 15 students had been sent home by noon.
Hurt said in addition to flu-like symptoms, there are respiratory illnesses, strep throat and stomach viruses.
Holy Name School is also seeing sharply-declined attendance, with a rate of about 87 percent Monday as compared to the school's usually high 98-99 percent attendance level.
Principal Daryl Hagan said 20-25 students were sent home with fevers Monday, and it appears most student absences -- as well as those of a number of faculty and staff members -- are because of flu-like symptoms.
If public schools close, Holy Name will have to close as well because it depends upon an arrangement with the Henderson County Board of Education to transport its students.
Meanwhile, Methodist Hospital reports its occupancy levels have spiked several times recently. Sue Newman, assistant director of nursing, said Monday that "the emergency room is seeing lots of flu-like symptoms among people of all ages." The pediatrics unit has been busy, she said, though that is typical for this time of year when respiratory ailments are making the rounds.
Local pediatrician Dr. John Jenkins -- who treated some young patients in his office on Sunday -- told The Gleaner Monday, "It's the flu. I don't know if it'll be a big epidemic or not."
He said typically more serious epidemics start in early January.
He noted that he began seeing positive flu tests last Monday, with several more on Tuesday, and then "30 or 40 on Wednesday and Thursday."
Dr. Jenkins, who said he ran out of flu tests over the weekend, related that he's seen instances "where everyone in the family has it." His own 11-year-old grandson contracted influenza though he'd earlier had a flu shot because of a chronic illness, Jenkins said.
Children who have the flu are coming down with sore throats, coughing, headaches, general aching and fever, Jenkins said, noting that with flu they all have fever. "It's rare to see a child who has flu without a fever of at least 101."
The doctor said a croup virus and strep throat also are in circulation, "and we're seeing RSV virus (a respiratory virus) in small kids. They tend to get much sicker with RSV than with flu."
There are antiviral medications that can be used as a flu preventative or in flu treatment, Jenkins said, but he predicted they may be hard to find. "Some of the drug stores didn't have them at the first of the week and some ran out on Sunday," he said of the drugs Amantadine and Tamiflu.
He expects flu to become the most prevalent ailment among children in coming days. "Flu is a bully that pushes everything else back into the corner."
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So YEAH!! For meee!! Thank Gosh I've already had it! My 5 day weekend will be soooooooooooo COOL!!
The best part is, no school in the county has been closed for ILLNESS in TEN YEARS!!
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:32 pm |
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Oh my! 
Are you ill as well?
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Sarah Connor
Rear Admiral
Joined: 10 Jul 2003
Posts: 3644
Location: Kentucky
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| Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:38 pm |
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I've already had it But there are two differnt version's and I feel like Im getting the second one, but lucky for me it's not a long lasting as the first 
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:40 pm |
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That is good news I suppose. Enjoy your time off!
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ACDC Girl
Krazy Kitty
Joined: 25 Sep 2004
Posts: 7748
Location: Who Cares. :P
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| Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:45 pm |
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Wow, you are so lucky!
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Sarah Connor
Rear Admiral
Joined: 10 Jul 2003
Posts: 3644
Location: Kentucky
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| Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:47 pm |
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yesh, I am But I feel bad for the one's who are home sick and can't enjoy it..but it's raining so WE can't really enjoy it, lol!
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Kyle Reese
Cadet Gunnery Sergeant
Joined: 21 Apr 2003
Posts: 5672
Location: The United States of America
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| Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:20 pm |
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Rain's awesome, I wish it would rain here. There's several inches of ice here now in Kansas.
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