Swine Flu Hits City Schools

by Melissa Bailey | June 3, 2009 3:37 PM | | Comments (4)

(Updated: 5:21 pm.) The state Department of Public Health has confirmed the first case of swine flu to “affect” the city school district, school officials announced Wednesday.

Officials declined to name the school or specify the affected person’s role in the school system. All swine flu cases in New Haven being monitored by the city health department have been “mild in nature with a return to full health in a relatively short time,” according to the city.

“We do not anticipate any serious incidents as all indications point to very mild cases,” said NHPS Chief Operating Officer Will Clark.

All city schools remain open, and students and staff should continue to attend school “as long as they are not sick and do not have flu-like symptoms, including fever (over 100 degrees F.), cough, sore throat, runny nose or stuffy nose.” Other symptoms include “muscle pain, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.” Any student experiencing these symptoms should stay home until the child has been well for two days.

Click here to read a letter sent home to parents Tuesday.

State officials have confirmed 395 cases of swine flu among Connecticut residents, including nine in New Haven, according to the state Department of Public Health. Almost all the cases statewide have been mild.

Wednesday, officials announced that the first Connecticut person died from the swine flu. The person lived in New Haven County, but not in the City of New Haven, according to city officials.

Click here for Abram Katz’s past story explaining the epidemic. Click here for the state’s swine flu info site.







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Comments

Posted by: MD | June 3, 2009 5:22 PM

I am a concerned parent and WE(PARENTS) would like to know the school .. There are kids who have medical problems at school and to say "its mild" that's bull.. What if one of those kids that have medical problems get sick because not cleaning the schools. What the hell is wrong with you people . I thought Kids come First...!!!! ... What if it was your kid at school ?

Posted by: mom of 4 | June 3, 2009 6:46 PM

I Live in Hamden but have one child who does go to a New Haven Public School?? Why is the school not being named? that is very concerning to me! All of the other schools in better cities yell out the name of the school instantly when they even have only one case...why is New Haven so different??? I'd like to know why?? Cant we take precautions too to protect days from being taken off at my job for being sick? What if my other children are immunue compromised? C'mon New Haven Board of Education! If you are trying to avoid a mass hysteria, you have no idea what leaving people in the dark will do!

Posted by: SJ | June 3, 2009 9:53 PM

It is absolutely irresponsible not to report which school has been affected. I did not receive a letter from my son's school, I downloaded it from this site, after being informed by watching the news. The Board of Ed dropped the common sense ball on this one. They'd better hope children with poor immune systems aren't affected due to their lack of informing parents to monitor the children and relative siblings of those attending the affected school. Very irresponsible!!!!

Posted by: Concerned Parent | June 5, 2009 10:03 AM

I am yet another concerned parent who wishes that the Superintendent's Office had acted more appropriately.

Just like they announce school closures & delays via the phone method, they should have announced this that way as well.

Not only could this potentially harm students with poor systems, but could affect the parents as well. I am pregnant and can only hope that this isn't transmitted to our home.

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