Swine flu has closed four Vt. schools
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By SUSAN ALLEN TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: November 6, 2009
MONTPELIER — Four schools in Vermont have closed to date as a result of student absences in large part caused by swine flu, the state Health Department reported Thursday.
"By all measures and like 47 other states, influenza illness is still widespread and still on the rise in all areas of our state," said Health Commissioner Wendy Davis during a weekly update on the status of the H1N1 virus.
Websterville Baptist Church and Christian School Principal Bill Croteau confirmed that the Orange school closed Tuesday and Wednesday, after about 25 percent of the 143-member student body was absent Monday.
Davis said the other three schools that have closed for periods of time are Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Lyndon Institute and the Isle La Motte School.
Websterville Baptist Church and Christian School reopened Thursday, and while Croteau had not taken a head count, he said it appeared that students were returning to class.
"We're so family-oriented, we have a lot of younger siblings and older siblings here," he said. "It's just a matter of time if one member gets it, the rest of the family will get something."
Croteau said he and most of the parents agree that it doesn't make sense to hold classes when large numbers of students are absent.
"Parental support for this was across the board," he said of the decision to close for two days. Croteau said his motto is: "When in doubt, keep them out."
Davis said that while the general recommendation is to keep schools open if possible (studies show that closing a school does not reduce transmission of the disease, she noted), that call should be made locally.
"This concept of encouraging local decision-making makes sense," Davis said. "They have the best sense of what's going to make sense for their schools."
Davis said hospitals are also seeing an increase in patients coming to emergency rooms complaining of flu-like symptoms, and many are taking steps to limit the spread of the disease in their facilities. For example, some hospitals have restricted people with any flu-like symptoms from visiting other patients.
At Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, the number of patients arriving at the Emergency Department complaining of flu-like symptoms has increased from 57 on Oct. 1 to 118 on Nov. 1.
Today and Monday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Emergency Department will send suspected flu cases to a special clinic in Building D (signs will guide visitors to the location), where those patients will be seen by physician assistants.
Hospital officials stress that this is not a vaccination clinic; patients will be able to get prescriptions for Tamiflu if appropriate, they said.
The hours of that clinic might be expanded in the future if warranted.
She said the good news is people are still recovering well from the swine flu. Most simply stay home from work or school, get rest, drink fluids and "do just fine." In addition, the virus does not appear to be changing or mutating, which means the vaccine remains effective in preventing the illness.
Davis announced last week that there has been one death in Vermont that involved the H1N1 virus — an adult with another serious medical condition. She said Thursday there have been no further deaths reported.
The commissioner noted that adequate supply of the vaccine remains slow, leaving people waiting for clinics. She said as of Wednesday, 23,000 doses had been administered to people considered at higher-risk of getting the flu — including pregnant women, young children and young adults, and adults with other serious medical conditions. She said about 55,000 doses are available at this point.
In addition, the commissioner said more than 5,000 doses were given to children during 27 school clinics last week, with an additional 6,000 doses to be administered at the 40 clinics expected by this week's end.
The first public vaccination clinics also got under way this week. Davis said the first, held in Middlebury on Tuesday, went well, although about 100 of the 400 people who showed up were turned away for lack of vaccine. She said some states are scheduling vaccinations to prevent people from having to wait in long lines, and said Vermont's system might evolve as this state gets more experience with clinics.
Davis was asked whether inmates in the state prisons are receiving vaccine, and she said high-risk inmates are being vaccinated.
So far, the commissioner said, Vermonters are responding reasonably to the outbreak. She said while there has been frustration at the lack of vaccine, particularly from parents concerned about protecting their children, there has not been panic.
Asked where the disease appears headed in Vermont, Davis said she's not certain. It is still increasing in this state, but in some other regions, such as the south, it has peaked and is on the decline.
"But we know from past flu seasons that influenza illness can peak, decline, then peak again," she said. "It's hard to know what will happen this year."
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