Reports of flu expected to continue through camp season

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June 18, 2009

By Bethany Bray

As the H1N1 "swine" flu outbreak has been elevated to global pandemic status, Andover Public Schools continue to see a spike in student absences due to flu-like symptoms.

"We continue to see higher rates of absenteeism than is normal for this time of year. It doesn't seem to be slowing down," said Rita Casper, director of nursing for the Andover Public Schools. "Testing for H1N1 is no longer the focus, but instead breaking the cycle of transmission. In most cases, the symptoms are relatively mild.

"The absenteeism has not impacted our schools to the effect that we have to think about closing schools."

Health professionals are no longer testing patients with flu-like symptoms for H1N1, said Joanne Martel, Andover's assistant health director, except in high-risk or severe cases.

"Really, what's being seen is influenza A, which is H1N1. It's here. But doing all those confirmatory tests isn't going to help anything, it won't change the treatment," said Martel. "H1N1 isn't presenting in a deadly form, but presenting itself like the regular seasonal flu. The course of treatment is to stay home and treat symptoms, and stay home till you're better. We're very lucky that (H1N1) has presented in a mild form."

Both Casper and Martel stressed the importance of regular hand washing, and staying home seven days if one is sick, especially with a fever, a time table recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

Last week, the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 outbreak as a pandemic; Massachusetts' first death from H1N1, a 30-year-old woman from Boston, came on June 14.

"'Pandemic' does not refer to severity, but the number of cases and how widespread it is. It's important that people don't panic with the use of the word pandemic," said Casper. "The main thing is staying out of school, proper hand washing and cough and sneeze etiquette."

Andover's spike in flu absences varies from school to school, day to day, said Casper School health personnel continue to monitor absences, but there has been no pattern or trend tied to specific grade levels or schools, she said.

"We're seeing peaks (of illness) at different time at different buildings," said Casper.

Last month, two cases of H1N1 were confirmed in Andover schools, one at High Plain Elementary and one at Andover High School. Both individuals have made a full recovery.

The last day of school in Andover is next Friday, June 26. But Casper and Martel agreed that with summer camps and activities, they expect to see continued instances of flu over the summer months.

For more information on H1N1, symptoms and treatment, call the Andover Department of Public Health at 978-623-8295 or visit www.mass.gov/dph or www.cdc.gov/swineflu.