Huron Valley Catholic School in Ypsilanti closes for week because of widespread illness, likely swine flu
Huron Valley Catholic School in Ypsilanti will be closed until next Monday due to large numbers of staff and student out sick, likely because of swine flu.
It is the first school in Washtenaw County to close due to widespread illness. The school had an absenteeism rate of more than 30 percent Monday, the county health department said.
School and health department officials made the decision to close for the week.
The Ypsilanti school is one of more than 500 schools in Michigan to close due to the flu in the past month.
It's unclear whether more school closures will occur in the coming days or weeks, said county health department epidemiologist Laura Bauman.
“Some schools (in the county) have gotten up to 20 percent absentee rate, and then it’s gotten better again,” Bauman said. “We have to wait and see. But I think its likely this will not be the only school closure.”
County health officials aren't concerned students off from school will flood public areas and might increase the rate the H1N1 flu has been spreading through the county.
While those with symptoms of the flu are being strongly encouraged to stay home, the flu virus is already out in the community, and it’s not expected a single school would increase that rate much, Bauman said.
Public health officials have said reported school illness rates have surpassed peak levels for a typical seasonal flu season, which usually peaks in January or February.
There have been 31 hospitalizations of Washtenaw County residents since the end of August due to the H1N1 flu virus - 15 of which occurred last week. No deaths of Washtenaw County residents due to the H1N1 flu virus have occurred.
For updates on the H1N1 flu virus and the vaccination clinic schedule, visit www.ewashtenaw.org/flu. To have more detailed questions answered, contact public health nurses and educators at 734-544-6700.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Comments
marisseli
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 12:04 p.m.
FYI - the kids won't be going to school all summer long. The school has already carved out the 3 days they are missing (Friday was a scheduled day off) - they will be made up before the end of December - so buses WON'T have to run extra days.
rcastentman
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 9:04 p.m.
From the Dundee Community Schools main web page: The Dundee Schools will be closed for students and staff on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 for health reasons. Classes will resume on Monday, November 9th. The county and district in-service on Thursday and Friday, as well as the Health Department Clinic on Thursday will go on as scheduled. A letter will be sent to parents explaining the district's decision.
Tina Reed
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 5:17 p.m.
School was closed because of a more than 30 percent rate of flu-like illness. But, just as how the county has been handling the general public, it's really only those people who have a high risk of serious complications or those who end up in the hospital that are being tested to confirm H1N1. County health officials say more than 99 percent of the flu that's currently circulating is H1N1 and not the anticipated seasonal flu virus which usually hits its peak in January or February. Here is a map of where schools have been closed around the state: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/CurrentSchoolClosings_298090_7.pdf
uawisok
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 5:02 p.m.
Say 3 hail marys and call me in the morning
treetowncartel
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 4:22 p.m.
Well, at least the tax payers won't have to pay for that extra school. we mighht have to keep sopme busses running though,, don't the districts contract with the private schools? Billy, Any idea whats on tap for the local tv news tonight, I won't have a paper at home to read instead. I'm suspecting it will be some footage of a former Piston reat, and no i'm not talking about William Bedford.