Three swine flu cases confirmed at fort schools

Officials from Silver Valley Unified School District have reported that three students attending schools at Fort Irwin have the district’s first confirmed cases of the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu.

The three students, whose identities or ages were not disclosed, are also the first confirmed H1N1 virus cases reported locally. The district sent a letter home to parents informing them of the cases Wednesday.

SVUSD officials verified through physicians and fort medical officials as of Tuesday that the illnesses were, in fact, swine flu, according to Assistant Superintendent of Administration Aaron Haughton.

The three fort schools are Lewis Elementary School, Tiefort View Intermediate School and Fort Irwin Middle School.

As local school districts brace for the flu season, some school health officials already report seeing an increase in sick students.

Frieda Bogart, a health clerk at Yermo School, said that up to 13 students with high fevers have already visited her this year.

While all classrooms and bathrooms have been stocked with hand sanitizer for a few years now, school officials are upping efforts to help students prevent infection, like telling them to wash their hands before eating.

“They’re reminded daily,” Bogart said.

Schools in Barstow Unified School District have also been stocked with hand sanitizer, but will soon be getting a bigger boost to guard against the H1N1 virus.

BUSD will be receiving H1N1 vaccines in October and officials at school sites will be administering them to students with parental permission, said Superintendent Susan Levine.

There have been reports that children only need one dose of the vaccine, but according to Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, San Bernardino County health officer, those studies are still in their testing phases.

“For now, what we know is that there will be two vaccines” for kids that are to be taken three weeks apart, said Ohikhuare. Vaccines for the H1N1 virus will be available in the form of both shots and nasal sprays, he noted.

The H1N1 vaccine is recommended for children ages six months and older, Ohikhuare said.

Since last year, the county department of public health has asked school districts to help them keep track of flu illnesses by reporting absenteeism rates to the county.

Levine said that county health officials have not advised districts to close schools because the H1N1 virus this year.

“I think the panic element is gone,” said Levine.

“They’re not panicking about it because we know it’s coming,” she said.
 
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