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Post by WeNeed3 on May 6, 2009 17:48:10 GMT -5
The Will County Health Department notified Indian Prairie School District 204 today that two students at Neuqua Valley High School have confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza (swine flu). Both students are under a physician's care and are following guidelines to stay out of school for the recommended 7 day period. Following the new guidelines issued yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control, the Will County Health Department is recommending the school remain open and all activities and events proceed as planned. The CDC's revised guidelines regarding school closings state that school closure is not advised unless there is a "magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to function." The health department reviewed the school's absentee rate, which did not show any significant increases. The district continues to work with the health department to monitor reports of illness along with absentee rates for any abnormal instances across the district. The health department emphasizes that any person with flu-like symptoms should stay home for 7 days. We encourage you to contact your medical provider if your child has flu symptoms and does not improve within 24 to 48 hours. For general questions about H1N1 flu, please call your medical provider or the DuPage County Health Department at 630-682-7400. For updates from the health department, visit www.protectdupage.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- School District 204 www.ipsd.org780 Shoreline Drive Aurora, IL 60504 USA Anyone know if this was Gold or Main?
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Post by title1parent on May 8, 2009 5:19:37 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1563800,Neuqua-flu-cases_NA050709.article Neuqua taking flu cases in strideMay 8, 2009 By SUSAN FRICK CARLMAN / scarlman@scn1.com Pandemic doesn't appear to be on the minds of Neuqua Valley High School's families. District 204 communications director Janet Buglio reported that routine was the rule Thursday, a day after the Will County Health Department announced that two 18-year-olds from the south Naperville campus had confirmed cases of H1N1 flu. "The school hasn't seen any significant increase in absenteeism between (Wednesday) and today," Buglio wrote in a mid-day e-mail. "It's just a regular school day." Faculty and staff had not aired any specific concerns about the appearance of the virus in the student population, Buglio said, and the department hadn't notified the district of any additional cases in its schools. The oft-repeated advice centered on basic sanitation was circulated at the school before the two positive diagnoses were established. "Earlier this week, Principal Bob McBride did make an announcement to staff and students reminding them about basic hygiene to help stop the spread of germs," Buglio said. The Illinois Department of Public Health, which updates the statistics daily, was reporting 280 confirmed and likely cases statewide as of 10 a.m. Thursday, an increase of 35 more than the preceding 24 hours. In DuPage County, the count had grown by three confirmed cases over the same timeframe. The number of confirmed cases in the county was 20 on Tuesday, and officials said the figures would be rising significantly as state laboratories catch up on the backlog that built up at the Centers for Disease Control, which initially was overseeing all of the testing. The World Health Organization reported an international tally of 2,099 cases early Thursday afternoon. More than half of the illnesses have occurred in Mexico, where 42 people have died.
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Post by title1parent on May 9, 2009 6:32:38 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1564735,flu-tally-na050809.article Flu tallies rise as labs catch upMay 9, 2009 By SUSAN FRICK CARLMAN scarlman@scn1.com The reported local H1N1 flu head count continues to climb rapidly, jumping more than 70 percent in Will County over the past two days. "We are up to 31 confirmed (cases)," Will County Health Department spokesman Vic Reato said mid-morning Friday. Two others, which the Illinois Department of Public Health was including in its most recent report, were not yet conclusively verified, Reato said. The increase represents a substantial jump from Wednesday's tally of 18 confirmed illnesses in Will County, which included two Neuqua Valley High School seniors and a 12-year-old girl who attends Ira Jones Middle School in Plainfield. All three are reportedly recovering at home, and the schools remain open. "I don't think (the increase) is really necessarily indicative of anything," Reato said. "It would be hard to read anything into it. There's just a big backlog of cases." DuPage County also has seen its numbers rise, from 26 on Wednesday to 32 by Friday morning. As of Friday's 10 a.m. update from the Centers for Disease Control, Illinois led the nation by far, counting 392 confirmed cases statewide. Wisconsin had the next largest number, with 240. Other states posting large confirmed-case counts included New York, with 174; Arizona, at 131; and California, 107. In all, the CDC tally showed 1,639 cases confirmed in the U.S. Two people have died from the virus. The eye-opening numbers for Illinois may be attributable to the state being among the first to take over the definitive testing procedures that initially were being conducted by the CDC alone. The federal agency passed along the task to the individual states late last week as the influx of samples in need of analysis grew beyond its capacity to process them in a timely manner. International disease trackers added 285 new laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in the last half of the day Thursday. The tally - which is expected to continue its upward arc as local labs catch up on backlogged specimens - stood at 2,384 in the update released at 1 a.m. Illinois time. The latest count in Mexico, which has seen the largest outbreak by far, was 1,112. The death toll there remained unchanged, at 42.
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Post by title1parent on Jul 20, 2009 18:21:11 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1675354,Health-officials-await-specifics-H1N1_na072009.article Health officials await specifics for H1N1 flu plansJuly 20, 2009 SUN By SUSAN FRICK CARLMAN scarlman@scn1.com School may be out and the days may be long and summery, but the flu virus that has swept the globe over the past three months hasn't taken a vacation. Reported cases of H1N1 influenza in Illinois had climbed to 3,357 last Friday, when the state released its weekly tally. The number represents a 74 percent increase over five weeks. DuPage County's case count rose from 82 to 141 over the period; while Will County saw its total rise from 102 to 147, 19 of them in Naperville. Of the 15 deaths traced to the virus statewide, 12 were in Cook County. None has occurred in either of the local counties. As participants convened in Springfield last week for the 2009 Illinois Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Summit, focusing on what state health czar Damon T. Arnold called "pandemic preparedness plans," area health officials continued preparing for an increase in people sickened by the flu strain when fall comes. At Edward Hospital in Naperville — where the influx of new cases has let up a bit since June — that means an ounce of prevention. "Specifically we're looking at our stockpile of infection protection," said Mary Anderson, infection control manager, who noted that efforts are directed toward ensuring there are adequate stores of masks, gowns and gloves to ward off extensive sharing of the virus in-house. "We're anxiously awaiting news on vaccine for H1N1, but we are definitely making plans to prepare our staff for seasonal flu," she added. Although specifics are scarce, Anderson and other health professionals expect to begin public H1N1 flu shots by mid-October. The vaccine is currently in clinical trials, which are expected to last until early August. In the interim, the DuPage County Health Department is assuming the role of information provider, along with preparing for any part it might eventually play in administering the vaccine. "We have done a significant amount of planning already, and we are looking at how we're going to staff a potential H1N1 outbreak in the fall ... we want to be able to inform the public," said David Hass, public information officer. The Will County Health Department also aims to be ready when the flu comes back, although media services manager Vic Reato said the effort remains in "a holding pattern" until more information comes through. In addition to the matter of timing, it is still unknown if priority will be given to specific target groups and whether the shots will be administered singly or in multiple doses. "Also, we're waiting to see: is public health going to be predominantly responsible for distributing the vaccine, or will there be other means?" Reato said. "Those are all things that need to be determined on the federal level before we can make definitive plans." For now, the area agencies are trying to be at the ready. "It is a very, very top priority," Hass said.
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Post by title1parent on Aug 17, 2009 5:16:55 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1719289,2_1_AU17_SWINE_S1-090817.article Schools preparing for flu threatH1N1 Vaccine available by October August 17, 2009 By ERIKA WURST ewurst@scn1.com When the swine flu shut down schools in Batavia, Aurora and Oswego, administrators weren't ready for the pandemonium that followed. This fall, school districts and health departments around the Fox Valley are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as they prepare to release a vaccine. "The best way to prevent the spread of flu is vaccination," CDC Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. "A seasonal flu vaccine is ready to go, and we should have one for the 2009 (swine) flu by mid-October." According to the CDC, the vaccine first will be administered to pregnant women, people who care for children under 6 months old, health care professionals, people ages 6 months to 24 years old and high-risk people ages 25 to 64 years. And though the CDC "does not expect that there will be a shortage" of the vaccine, its availability and demand will be unpredictable. Until then, school districts are looking toward not only the CDC, but local health departments for immediate flu-protocol guidance. "I hate to say it, but nobody knows if (the flu) is going to get bad again," said Kane County Health Department spokesman Tom Schlueter. "It's very disruptive to close school. Not only to the teacher and parents, but the students. Hopefully the new guidelines will help that out a bit." Last school year, seven Fox Valley schools closed because of confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu: Haines Middle School in St. Charles; Batavia High School and Rotolo Middle School in Batavia; Marmion Academy in Aurora; and Thompson Junior High, Bednarcik Junior High and Fox Chase Elementary School in the Oswego district. Kristine Liptrot, communication director for the Oswego School District, said the district's health coordinator has been researching the virus all summer to be ready when school starts this later month. Liptrot said a group has been put together to review information and finalize a plan which will be put in place before classes begin. Liptrot is hopeful the district will work out the kinks it faced last school year when it shut down Bednarcik after confirming a student had the virus. This decision was based on CDC recommendations. "We tried to give parents notice, but it was difficult for working parents," she said. "Educationally, it's not something we like to do either. Students should be in classroom learning as much as possible." Several months later, when new information on the disease's severity came to light, the CDC revised its policy and told schools to stay open unless the magnitude of faculty or student absences interfered with the school's ability to function. "We were getting different suggestions coming out of different health departments," Liptrot said. "This caused confusion. We are experts in education so we follow advice from health experts. But when there's a problem there, we have to act out of caution for safety of students." Liptrot said she hopes the summer was long enough for everyone to reflect on what happened in the spring. "We have to have all of our information together so we can be proactive instead of reactive," she said. Juanita Gryfinski, department chairman of health services for St. Charles, said her district is "definitely prepared." "We're following the Kane County Health Department guidelines and conducting our own surveillance; looking at certain people who call in sick and keeping an eye on reasons they're out," she said. The district is also creating prevention programs which will teach students about hand washing and proper coughing techniques -- the primary means to reduce the spread of flu in schools. Early identification and keeping students home if they are exhibiting symptoms are also crucial measures. The CDC recommends students, faculty or staff with flu-symptoms (fever, cough and sore throat) should remain out of the school for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
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Post by title1parent on Aug 23, 2009 7:14:46 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1730096,4_1_JO23_COUGH_S1-090823.article Be on lookout for H1N1 virus symptoms August 23, 2009 From Submitted Reports JOLIET -- Educators from across Will County are being asked to deliver an extra classroom message when the 2009-2010 academic year commences. "Proper cough etiquette and frequent hand washing are important topics that need to be emphasized at every opportunity in the schools," said Will County Health Department Executive Director John Cicero. "Vaccines are on the way to help protect us against seasonal influenza and the novel H1N1 Swine Flu, but stressing the need for personal prevention measures will help limit the spread of flu viruses in the meantime. Covering your cough and hand washing are commonsense things we can all do to help keep virus transmission at a minimum." Cicero and Health Department Emergency Response Coordinator Jackie Mansholt shared their prevention message with Will County school superintendents at a meeting sponsored by the Regional Office of Education. The department provided each school district with a packet of information containing current flu prevention recommendations developed by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The packets also contained a list of agency contacts and Web site information designed to help schools deal with influenza issues anticipated this fall. From April 15 through July 24, CDC reported 43,771 laboratory-confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus; including 5,011 hospitalizations and 302 fatalities. Unlike seasonal influenza, the H1N1 virus disproportionately impacts school students and young adults. The median age for 154 Will County H1N1 cases reported through July 29 was 12 years. Approximately 55 percent of cases reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health occurred among people younger than age 25. "Our experience with the H1N1 virus last spring underscores the need to stress prevention at every turn," Cicero continued. "Parents also need to understand that they must keep children out of school when they feel sick. The schools will definitely be sharing that information with parents." H1N1 flu symptoms include: fever, a cough, achiness, and chills. Diarrhea, vomiting and shortness of breath are less common, but also may be present. Based on the severity of H1N1 flu-related illnesses reported so far, CDC now recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain home until at least 24 hours after they are free from fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications. This is a change from the previous recommendation that ill persons stay home for seven days after illness onset, or until resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer. About 55 million students and 7 million staff attend the more than 150,000 public and private schools located across America. By implementing specific prevention recommendations, school and health officials can better protect a fifth of the country's population from influenza. For more information about flu prevention in the school setting, visit www.flu.gov.
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Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Aug 23, 2009 10:57:21 GMT -5
At Brooks, they've had recess before lunch as long as my kids have gone there. I have heard that they are going to switch that up so that kids will wash hands, eat lunch and then go out for recess. This is great (and something they should have been doing all along), but I wonder what this does to the times the kids will actually eat. Also, what will that mean in the winter when they used to bundle up in the classroom for recess and then strip off the coats/hats/mittens for lunch. Will they still eat in their boots and snow pants or will they be wearing more stuff?
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Post by momto4 on Aug 23, 2009 11:24:27 GMT -5
At Brooks, they've had recess before lunch as long as my kids have gone there. I have heard that they are going to switch that up so that kids will wash hands, eat lunch and then go out for recess. This is great (and something they should have been doing all along), but I wonder what this does to the times the kids will actually eat. Also, what will that mean in the winter when they used to bundle up in the classroom for recess and then strip off the coats/hats/mittens for lunch. Will they still eat in their boots and snow pants or will they be wearing more stuff? They used to do it in that order, I'll ask my older kids.
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Post by title1parent on Sept 3, 2009 5:25:43 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1749671,DuPage-influenza-vaccinations_na090309.article Most officials say flu vaccine a good ideaSeptember 3, 2009 By SUSAN FRICK CARLMAN scarlman@scn1.com In a normal year, we all decide whether or not we're going to be vaccinated against the anticipated strains of flu. This year isn't an exception — but it's not a normal year, either. After a summer that saw flu cases in larger numbers than usual, mostly the H1N1 variety, health workers and educators are bracing for a vigorous return of the strain — quite possibly in a more destructive form. The President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology said recently it's quite possible the virus could send 1.8 million Americans to the hospital and cause 30,000 to 90,000 deaths this season. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION Health experts suggest developing certain habits to prevent passing or contracting the flu. • Cover your mouth if you cough. • Keep your hands clean with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Stay home from work or school if you have a fever or cough, and don't go back until the fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. • Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because the are access points for infection. • Use common sense: avoid sick people, keep stress levels down, continue to exercise, get lots of rest, eat healthy foods and stay well hydrated. HOT LINE The DuPage County Health Department also has established a hot line with information about H1N1 and seasonal influenza virus. It can be reached at 630-221-7600. While it won't be possible to receive a flu shot to guard against the sometimes-deadly new flu strain for another few weeks at least, it's not too early to ward off the usual collection of aches and pains other strains of flu bring with the return of icy winds and short days. It was mostly a matter of timing that created the one-two (or perhaps one-three) punch that is this year's flu shot scenario, Dr. Rashmi Chugh said. The medical officer for the DuPage County Health Department said the annual process of producing a shot to protect against the upcoming onslaught of influenza strains was well under way before the first cases of H1N1 flu turned up in April. The seasonal shot appeared at area health clinics and drug stores last week and is widely available now. "Seasonal flu vaccine is recommended pretty much for anyone who would like to avoid getting sick from the flu," said Chugh, noting that it's considered especially important for children age 6 months to 18 years and people 50 and older. Those with allergies to eggs and other ingredients in the vaccine, however, should take a pass. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, cancer and HIV; people who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities; and those who live with or care for people considered at high risk — health care workers and parents of newborns, who are too young for shots, for example — especially are urged to have the seasonal flu shot, Chugh said. Enough to go around It doesn't appear there will be a shortage of either the yearly flu shot available now or the H1N1 when it completes clinical trials and becomes available — most likely sometime in October. "This year, they are anticipating a supply of about 119 million doses of the seasonal vaccine," Chugh said. The H1N1 shot is expected to be far more plentiful than that, with estimates running to 600 million doses, she said — enough for nearly every American to have the anticipated two-shot dosing. Vic Reato, spokesman for the Will County Health Department, said he heard recently that clinical trials in China have indicated that a single shot of the H1N1 vaccine being developed there will suffice. "That would be a wonderful revelation if that should happen to be the case for our vaccine as well," Reato said. "The thought all along has been that this was going to be a two-dose vaccine. (It would) stretch the vaccine a lot further." Not everybody is a proponent of inoculations for all, however — or even for most. At least one local pharmacist is more in favor of lower-key prevention. "I don't believe in them," said Tom Marks of Martin Avenue Pharmacy in Naperville. "Basically, they cause more harm than good." One of his customers recently traveled overseas with five family members. Four of the Naperville residents took the pre-emptive step of using the homeopathic preparation Beta 1,3 glucan, which encourages the body's defenses against viral infection. The resident, who didn't want to be identified, said the two family members who didn't take the natural preventive both developed classic H1N1 flu symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The other four remained healthy. Uncharted territory However its prevention is approached, the H1N1 influenza strain calls for a different perspective. Those who have been most seriously affected by it are not the elderly or the immune-compromised; it's those usually not considered in heightened danger from the flu. "For this novel strain, they're finding that younger people face the greatest susceptibility, those ages 5 to about 24," said Reato. From the outset, he added, two out of three cases were among people under 25. Pregnant women also are particularly prone and are being urged to get both types of flu shot. "When you're pregnant, you're more susceptible to a wide range of things, not just influenza," Reato said. Six percent of the confirmed H1N1 fatalities so far have been pregnant women, Chugh said, but only 1 percent of the general population is pregnant at any one time. "Based on what we've observed, (pregnant women) do seem to be experiencing some increased risk," she said. While young people are not as inclined to practice "cough etiquette," frequent hand washing and other habits believed to minimize transmission risk, no one is really sure why they are getting sick from H1N1 in greater numbers than they do in an average flu cycle. "The short answer is, it's new," Chugh said. "And just by nature of it being a new virus and no one having some exposure or some sort of an immune memory, it is targeting populations that are different from what we normally see with the seasonal flu. We're watching to see how it will evolve." No illness risk There is no basis to the belief that getting a flu shot will give you the flu, the experts said. The aftereffect most commonly reported is some soreness around where the shot was administered. "And you might experience a couple of days of feeling a little bit lethargic or achy as you mount an immune response to the virus," said Chugh, adding that the virus particles used to manufacture the vaccine are inactivated long before they go into the syringe. "If someone happens to become ill with a respiratory virus shortly after having a vaccine, it's coincidental." Reato also often hears it said that flu shots are harmful to one's health. "There's going to be a significant portion who are not going to be immunized against either, the H1N1 or the seasonal," he said. "What they generally tell you is that if you get a shot and you get sick, you're going to be less sick than if you got the flu." Chugh also said that while flu vaccines are generally just 75 to 80 percent effective in preventing infection, they usually lessen the severity or the duration of the illness in people who get the flu despite having had the shots. While health care providers and consumers wait for the H1N1 flu shot to arrive for distribution, they're urging precautionary measures that can help people steer clear of infection: exercise, lots of sleep, a healthy diet, plenty of water and avoidance of stress. And while the president's advisers may have made a prediction that ultimately proves unduly alarming, no one really knows what to expect. "Only time will tell," Reato said.
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Post by title1parent on Sept 8, 2009 5:19:56 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1758022,2_1_AU08_FLU_S1-090908.article Flu decision: to get that shot or not?Health officials fear next outbreak could be severe September 8, 2009 Beacon By SUSAN FRICK CARLMAN scarlman@scn1.com In a normal year, we all decide whether or not we're going to be vaccinated against the flu. This year isn't an exception -- but it's not a normal year, either. After a summer that saw flu cases in larger numbers than usual, mostly the swine flu variety, health workers and educators are bracing for a vigorous and possibly more destructive strain. The President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology said recently it's quite possible the virus could send 1.8 million Americans to the hospital and cause 30,000 to 90,000 deaths this season. While it won't be possible to receive a flu shot for another few weeks, it's not too early to ward off the usual collection of aches and pains other strains of flu bring with the return of icy winds and short days. Rashmi Chugh, medical officer for the DuPage County Health Department, said the annual process of producing a shot to protect against the upcoming onslaught of flu strains was well under way before the first cases of swine flu turned up in April. The seasonal shot appeared at area health clinics and drug stores last week and is widely available now. Chugh recommends a seasonal flu shot pretty much for anyone who would like to avoid getting sick from the flu. It's considered especially important for children ages 6 months to 18 years and people 50 and older. Those with allergies to eggs and other ingredients in the vaccine should take a pass. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, cancer and HIV; people who live in nursing homes or long-term-care facilities; and those who live with or care for people considered at high risk -- health care workers and parents of newborns, who are too young for shots, for example -- are urged to have the seasonal flu shot, Chugh said. Enough to go around It doesn't appear there will be a shortage of either the yearly flu shot available now or the swine flu shot when it completes clinical trials and becomes available -- most likely sometime in October. The U.S. is anticipating a supply of about 119 million doses of the seasonal vaccine. The swine flu shot is expected to be far more plentiful -- enough for nearly every American to have the anticipated two-shot dosing. Not everybody is a proponent of inoculations, however. At least one local pharmacist is more in favor of lower-key prevention. "I don't believe in them," said Tom Marks of Martin Avenue Pharmacy in Naperville. "Basically, they cause more harm than good." One of his customers recently traveled overseas with five family members. Four of the Naperville residents took the pre-emptive step of using the homeopathic preparation Beta 1,3 glucan, which encourages the body's defenses against viral infection. The resident, who didn't want to be identified, said the two family members who didn't take the natural preventive both developed classic swine flu symptoms. The other four remained healthy. Uncharted territory The swine flu strain calls for a different perspective. Those who have been most seriously affected by it are not the elderly or the immune-compromised; it's those usually not considered in heightened danger from the flu. "They're finding that younger people face the greatest susceptibility, those ages 5 to about 24," said Vic Reato, spokesman for the Will County Health Department. From the outset, two out of three cases were among people under 25. "It's new," Chugh said. "And just by nature of it being a new virus and no one having some exposure or some sort of an immune memory, it is targeting populations that are different from what we normally see with the seasonal flu. We're watching to see how it will evolve." Pregnant women also are particularly prone and are being urged to get both types of flu shots. "When you're pregnant, you're more susceptible to a wide range of things, not just influenza," Reato said. Six percent of the confirmed swine flu fatalities so far have been pregnant women, Chugh said. "Based on what we've observed, (pregnant women) do seem to be experiencing some increased risk," she said. There is no basis to the belief that getting a flu shot will give you the flu, the experts said. The side effect most commonly reported is some soreness where the shot was administered. "You might experience a couple of days of feeling a little bit lethargic or achy as you mount an immune response to the virus," said Chugh. "If someone happens to become ill with a respiratory virus shortly after having a vaccine, it's coincidental."
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Post by title1parent on Sept 30, 2009 5:15:12 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1797487,6_1_NA30_H1N1_S1-090930.article H1N1 flu mostly absent from local classroomsSeptember 30, 2009 By SUSAN FRICK CARLMAN scarlman@scn1.com A resurgent H1N1 influenza is not yet mightily making its presence felt in area schools, but health experts say this is no time to let your guard down. Officials in School Districts 203 and 204 are taking extra pains to convey the prevention message and limit the impact of the virus. District spokespeople report that classroom absences from illness are running within normal ranges so far, hovering around 2 percent. The H1N1 strain, which lingered through the summer months and is expected to gain steam well ahead of flu's usual seasonal debut, likely will make the numbers swell. "As the school year progresses, we anticipate more illness from the H1N1 flu this fall compared to this past spring and that absenteeism rates due to influenza-like-illness will likely fluctuate," the District 203 Web site says. Policies in local school districts call for notifying parents whenever there is a cluster of communicable disease in a building or classroom, and that practice will continue in the upcoming flu season. Illinois is one of 25 states reporting widespread evidence of H1N1 flu cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The category is at the top end of four designations used by the federal agency to indicate flu activity levels: Sporadic, Local, Regional and Widespread. The Illinois Department of Public Health, which is keeping track of the flu through hospitalization records, counted 22 admissions between Aug. 30 and Sept. 19, and two deaths. The fatalities were the first in the state since early July. Nineteen people in all have died from the H1N1 virus in Illinois, but no deaths have been reported in DuPage or Will counties. David Hass, public information officer for the DuPage County Health Department, said the evidence of flu remains at a low level at this point, but that likely will change. The department receives reports from 200 county schools, and the tallies are updated daily. "To my knowledge, there has been no spike from either H1N1 or seasonal (flu), but that doesn't mean there hasn't been some activity in the schools," Hass said. The Will County Health Department is seeing just a hint of H1N1 from the 65 schools taking part in the voluntary reporting system. Spokesman Vic Reato said flu levels are "slightly ahead of where we were a year ago, but certainly nothing dramatic." While universities across the South are making news with extensive outbreaks of H1N1, North Central College isn't feeling under the weather at this point. "We don't have any suspected cases of H1N1 yet," said media relations director Ted Slowik, although he noted that four students living on campus have been sent home so far with flu-like symptoms. The quasi-quarantine approach is a good fit for the downtown Naperville college because many students have family in the region, and North Central's plan incorporates that. "We'll recommend that those that are close enough to home go home until symptoms subside for 24 hours," Slowik said. The Web page established by North Central to spread information about the flu states that stricken international students and those whose full-time homes are out of the area will be placed in "an isolated room" where medical staff will keep an eye on them daily. While communities await the expected distribution of the H1N1 vaccine in mid-October, institutions are pushing the prevention message with an aggressive inoculation campaign, printed information, ready access to hand sanitizing facilities and other measures. "We're trying the whole education thing that so many colleges and universities nationwide are doing," Slowik said. Communications people and health specialists are working to prevent complacency and maintain a level of H1N1 flu awareness. The CDC's reports show that states exhibiting widespread incidence of the virus are increasing in number, and spreading north. "I'm sure our turn will come," Reato said.
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Post by title1parent on Sept 30, 2009 5:17:43 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1797702,6_1_NA30_H1N1_S2-090930.article Which flu is it?September 30, 2009 Is it, or isn't it? The normal seasonal flu and the sometimes much-worse H1N1 flu don't look all that different from one another. Both commonly involve fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, but with H1N1, children sometimes report an upset stomach or diarrhea as well. "Symptom-wise there really is no dramatic difference," said Vic Reato, spokesman for the Will County Health Department. The treatment is similar for both as well. "In most instances, the prescribed treatment is going to be rest, stay home until at least 24 hours after your symptoms have abated without medication," Reato said, adding, "I think the perception is that right now most of what we're seeing is H1N1." One of the most significant differences between the flu strains is that while seasonal flu tends to exact its highest toll among those age 50 and older, the H1N1 flu has been most deadly for people ages 5 to 24 and adults who have underlying risk factors, including pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease. It is also proving especially tenacious. "We are in uncharted territory," Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in his weekly press update Friday. "We have not had a flu season that has continued through the summer or started as early in the fall since probably 1957." Reato also noted that in a normal year, the appearance of flu would still be a few weeks away. "This is just the start of the influenza season," he said. "If this was a marathon, we are in the first half mile. There's a long, long way to go."
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Post by asmodeus on Sept 30, 2009 8:58:34 GMT -5
Where are the numbers to back this up?
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Post by momto4 on Sept 30, 2009 9:04:14 GMT -5
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Post by asmodeus on Sept 30, 2009 13:51:19 GMT -5
Even with the small sample size, I don't see 16% as "most deadly."
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