Swine flu case confirmed in Southeast Missouri school district

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Officials confirm a Doniphan student is sick with the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, the Daily American Republic reports.

The student is doing remarkably well on medication and has not been hospitalized, said Jan Morrow, director of Ripley County Public Health Center.

Morrow said she could not release the student's age or other specific information because of health privacy rules.

The student was running a temperature and visited a physician Thursday, she said. The health center was notified Monday the student has H1N1.

Health department and school officials say they are working together and this is not expected to disrupt classes.

"We have made recommendations and the school has fully cooperated," Morrow said.

The school began informing parents of the situation Monday, said Doniphan Superintendent Kevin Sandlin.

"We want everyone to be safe, but we don't want people to panic," Sandlin said. "Panic does not serve a purpose."

Steps the district is taking include: disinfecting items such as desks, chairs and doorknobs; providing hand sanitizer at several locations; having students wash their hands frequently; making sure students are not eating or drinking after each other; and having some groups use individual water bottles rather than water fountains.

"We are monitoring the kids. If someone complains of feeling sick or has signs of being sick, we will send them to the nurse," Sandlin said.

Students having a fever of 100 degrees or more will be sent home, he continued. The school recommends these students see a physician to find out the cause of their symptoms.

District attendance Tuesday was about 86 percent and had been averaging 95 percent.

Sandlin agreed some absences may be attributed to confirmation of H1N1 in the district. There are also other types of viruses already going around, including a stomach bug, he said.

"When making a consideration for the school, we have to look at the whole picture," Sandlin said. "We have one case confirmed. We still have 1,400 kids in school."

The decision to keep students who are not sick home ultimately rests with the parents, Sandlin said. But he asked that parents work with the district.

"We will do our part at school," he said. "We want kids to be in school and we want kids to be safe. The big thing is to talk to us and talk to the health department. There is a lot of information out there and plans in place to help with this."

The school will continue providing parents with information as the situation develops, Sandlin said.

The health department staff are on alert and gearing up for whatever may happen, said Morrow. They have been providing information to schools, childcare workers, workplaces and health care workers regarding H1N1.

"We are taking proactive steps rather than reactive," Morrow explained. "We are as prepared as we possibly can be."

Ripley County will receive some of the H1N1 vaccines when they become available, but it is not known how many or when, she said.