So far, no panic over H1N1 report

Local school officials say Thursday’s confirmation of H1N1 in Jackson County did not affect student attendance Friday.

Seymour Community Schools Superintendent Teran Armstrong said absences were “no higher than usual” and that so far parents and the community are handling the news well.

And Lin Montgomery, public health preparedness coordinator with Jackson County Health Department, said Friday brought no reports of any additional cases of the flu in the area.

Brownstown Central Community Schools Superintendent Roger Bane was not available for comment, but business manager Harry Rochner said he “wasn’t aware of an increase in absences” on Friday.

That doesn’t mean schools, however, should become complacent in watching for symptoms of the flu among their students, Armstrong said.

“By the time this comes out, that could change and we could have a case of it,” she said. “There is a possibility for rapid change.”

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some have reported diarrhea and vomiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

“This illness is characterized by fever,” Armstrong said, and “there should be a fever” before students are sent home, she added.

Armstrong said Friday the child diagnosed with the flu lives in Seymour but does not attend Seymour Community Schools as previously reported.

A letter to parents dated Aug. 27 and posted on Immanuel Lutheran School’s Web site shows she attends that parochial school in Seymour.

In the letter, Immanuel Principal Todd Behmlander wrote: “It has been confirmed that we have one child with a positive H1N1 test.”

Behmlander declined to comment Friday night.

His letter reports that the student is “feeling much better” and that “we praise God for his wonderful gift of healing.”

Officials said Thursday that the child was expected to return to school Monday.

Behmlander’s letter said the school continues to take precautionary measures, including “proper hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and disinfecting common surfaces.”

Washing one’s hands with soap and water is considered one of the best ways of fighting the flu and other viruses.

Behmlander recommended in the letter that children with flu symptoms be kept home until symptoms subside.

On Wednesday, Behmlander sent a letter home with students to inform parents of a “large number of absentees in the fourth grade.” At that time it was not confirmed Immanuel had a case of the H1N1 flu.

“Of 49 fourth-grade students, on Monday we had 24 students absent, on Tuesday 26 and today 17,” the letter stated. “Most students have similar symptoms of fever and headache.”

Armstrong and Jackson County Public Health Officer Dr. Kenneth Bobb said Thursday the good news about the virus is that it appears to be “mild.”

The Indiana State Health Department confirmed the H1N1 diagnosis from a sample sent in for testing. Another case was confirmed in Bartholomew County.

Armstrong said she wouldn’t be surprised if there have been other cases of H1N1 in Jackson County that have gone undiagnosed and she expects more cases will pop up.

“This is a flu season and we are going to be facing this through January,” she said.

Should H1N1 appear at Seymour Community Schools, Armstrong said, she will keep parents and the public informed.

“Facts trump rumors every time,” she said. “If I don’t come out and say it, then it just feeds the rumor mill. I want to be up front about the issue so that the schools can work with the community in addressing this.”
Armstrong said the corporation sent home information about H1N1 at the beginning of the year. She said that has helped with keeping students healthy.

School corporations continue to use plans in place to combat flu including effective hand-washing, appropriate use of drinking fountains and shielding coughs as well as keeping a close watch for children who might appear flushed with fever.

Many schools have added more hand sanitizer supplies to classrooms.