Student absences don't suggest flu outbreak

— Most schools in Washington County are reporting a typical number of student absences, despite rumors of an influenza outbreak.

"Typically, flu season doesn't even start until the late part of December and again in late February or early March," Elkins school nurse Shelly Hollingsworth said. "Right now, we're taking the normal precautions by using disinfectants, hand sanitizer and encouraging students to wash their hands throughout the day. We also encourage parents to keep their kids at home if they develop flulike symptoms."

Hollingsworth said the school district plans to distribute flu shots during its parent-teacher conferences in October.

Until then, the Washington County Health Department advises parents to monitor students carefully for signs and symptoms of the flu: fever of more than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Students with flulike symptoms are urged to stay home until they are without fever for 24 hours without the use of feverreducing medication.

Fayetteville School District spokesman Alan Wilbourn said school officials have yet to see in an increase in absences caused by the flu, nor have they confirmed any cases of the H1N1 virus, often referred to as swine flu.

"We've seen a little but not much," he said. "We've seen a few cases of influenza in every school,but none of the symptoms have been severe enough to be tested for swine flu. One thing we are seeing is another virus with similar characteristics to the flu, but when we do a swab test it doesn't come back as influenza."

Though the Lincoln School District reported an elevated number of student absences Thursday, school nurse Darlene Cheatham said officials have no way of linking the absences with any specific illness.

"We're having the seasonal September stomach virus," she said Friday. "We see it every year. We had about 50 absences in one building yesterday and 60 in another. Our numbers are much better today though."

Cheatham said she doesn't believe the absences should create any cause for concern.

"I think a lot of the rumors regarding a flu outbreak are just fabrication," she said. "Yesterday was the first day of deer season, so it may have had something to do with that."

Wilbourn said the district has yet to experience a flu outbreak as severe as the University of Arkansas'.

During the last week, UA officials confirmed 56 cases of the H1N1 virus, bringing the total number to 105 since Aug. 10.

Students and staff who report H1N1 symptoms are linked with a certified triage nurse. Patients are then asked to make an appointment at the Pat Walker Health Center or to self-isolate and treat their illness with overthe-counter medications, depending on the symptoms.

"A lot of the treatmentfor H1N1 virus is the same for the normal flu," university spokesman Charlie Alison said. "Since the beginning, we've tried to keep students isolated and asked them to stay in their rooms rather than go to class. We're continuing our prevention efforts, too, by encouraging students to wash their hands and not cough into open air. Our food service programs are also doing what they can to prevent germs from spreading into the food preparation areas."

Alison said the number of H1N1 cases is comparable to the typical flu season, though the recent outbreak is occurring earlier than usual.

"We're just at the beginning, so it's hard to tell how bad it's going to get," he said. "The UA has a mobile group of people, so it's tough to keep itcompletely from spreading. On weekends, they go home and catch it from a brother or sister, and before you know it, they bring it back to campus. That's why you'll see bottles of hand sanitizer in places on campus that you wouldn't normally see it."

Officials at both the state and Washington County health departments have been in close contact with hospitals, physicians, schools, child care facilities, laboratories and health officials across the state to provide guidance and monitor the number of suspected cases.

A communitywide flu shot clinic will be held Oct. 30 at First Baptist Church, and parents and students are being urged to attend. Flu shots are also available at local clinics and Wal-Mart.

News, Pages 6 on 09/26/2009

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