By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
Otsego County Health Department officials
confirmed Wednesday afternoon that eight of
the nine cases of flu at Cooperstown Central
School are the H1N1 strain. Results for a ninth
student in the ``cluster’’ is still pending, according
to health department officials.
The school sent a letter home to parents on
Monday, June 15 saying the district has been
seeing an increase in the number of students
reporting flu-like symptoms, some of which
could be cases of H1N1 flu.
Superintendent Mary Jo McPhail said Monday
the district has been working closely with
the health department in order to safeguard
the health and safety of the students in the
most appropriate manner. She said the health
department determines which individuals will
need to have cultures and was waiting to hear
the results of testing.
McPhail said sickness has been appearing
predominantly in the eighth-grade, forcing the
school to re-schedule the class graduation. The
eighth-grade graduation will be
held Wednesday, June 24 at 7
p.m. in the middle/high school
auditorium.
According to McPhail, the
middle/high school and all buses
have been disinfected. She
said the elementary school has
also been disinfected even
though nobody has been sick in
that building. Students who
have been sent home with symptoms are also
being advised to contact their physicians, said
McPhail.
Cynthia Moore, public health emergency
preparedness coordinator, said the investigation
is ongoing at CCS.
There have been 10 confirmed cases of swine
flu reported in Otsego County including two at
Oneonta High School and seven at Morris Central
School.
Moore said testing is done based on the guidance
of the New York State Department of
Health. With each situation things such as a
fever greater than or equal to 100 degrees, respiratory
symptoms, soar throat and body aches
are looked at, said Moore.
When asked whether it is safe for students
to be selling food concessions at the Father’s
Day Classic this weekend, Moore said she did
not foresee a problem. She said the bottom line
is those who are sick should not be working.
Moore said it is known H1N1 is in the community
and in area schools. She said those who
are feeling ill should simply stay home. She
said people with flu-like symptoms should remain
home for seven days or 24 hours after
symptoms subside, whichever is longest.
Swine flu is a novel influenza, like having a
mild condition of seasonal
flu, according to Moore. She
said the disease can be contained
by everyone doing
their part through proper
hygiene and staying home.
Monday was the last day
of regular scheduled classes
for CCS. However, the letter
recommended students
with temperatures of 100
or higher and with a cough,
sore throat, congestion or
body aches not attend
school or other school
events such as the alumni
dinner and graduations.
Although graduation is
a major milestone in the
life of a student that would
be hard to miss, the district
is advising students not to
attend if they have an elevated
temperature of 100
degrees or higher or other
flu-like symptoms.
`` If any of our seniors do
miss graduation due to illness,
we will provide a
small alternate ceremony
at the July Board of Education
meeting,’’ said the letter
to parents. ``We know
this will not equal a traditional
graduation; however,
it will give students an opportunity
to receive their
diplomas in a formal manner
with parents and family
in attendance.’’
According to the letter,
students scheduled to take
Regents exams who are exhibiting
flu-like symptoms
may come to school by car,
but should not ride the
school bus. They may take
the exam providing they do
not have a fever of 100 degrees
or higher. Students
with flu-like symptoms, but
no fever will be provided a
separate location and provided
facial masks to wear
during time spent in the
building.
Regents are secure tests
issued by the New York
State Education Department
and no make-ups during
this exam period are
allowed by state regulations.
Students may, however,
be rescheduled for
their Regents exam in August
of next January.
Make-up exams will be
provided for non-Regents
final exams for students
who have missed them due
to illness. C all the guidance
office at 547-5300 to
make arrangements.
According to Bassett
Healthcare spokeswoman
Karen Huxtable, Bassett
has not seen any spike in
the number of people coming
to the emergency department
or to its urgent
care centers with influenza like
symptoms.
