Two school districts in region close due to flu

Two more area school districts have closed because of illness.

Both the East Carter and Greenville school districts will be closed until Monday, when administrators hope to return with normal attendance levels.

School and health officials in Wayne and Carter counties say they have seen an increase in sickness this week, but the majority of cases have been mild.

Greenville called classes off at the end of the day Monday and East Carter at the end of the day Tuesday.

"We had been low for the last few days, but by 1 p.m. Monday, (percent attendance) at the high school was in the low 60s," said Greenville Superintendent Jim Morrison. "The bottom just fell out. When you get that low, you can't really do anything new."

Morrison said he spoke with other schools that have taken a break to let a virus run its course.

"Their attendance went back up and we hope that will happen for us," he said.

East Carter School District had about 120 students, or 20 percent, absent at the end of the day Tuesday, said Carter County Health Department Director Debbie Sandarciero.

"We have had more reports (of sickness) in this last week," she said, adding more students were out at the elementary than other buildings.

Classes at East Carter were already canceled Friday for teachers' meetings. Superintendent Daniel Slack was not available for comment this morning.

Van Buren School District is watching attendance closely today, said Superintendent Jeff Lindsey.

"We had quite a few absences yesterday (and) about 20 students went home, but we were still above 80 percent attendance at the end of the day," he said. "When (attendance) gets below 80 percent, it causes concern. We're certainly monitoring the situation and we'll act according to attendance."

He is concerned not only about missing days, but the hardship closing puts on parents who have to arrange for daycare, Lindsey said.

The district continues to take precautions recommended by the Center for Disease Control, including disinfecting hard surfaces and reminding students to wash their hands.

Clearwater School District was in session today and checking attendance numbers, according to staff members. Superintendent Blane Keel was not available for comment this morning.

Wayne County has seen an increase in illness this week, not just of the flu, but also other viruses, such as strep throat and sinus infections, said Wayne County Health Department Administrator Raejean Crutchfield. As of Oct. 18, there had been 84 confirmed cases of Influenza A and one confirmed case of H1N1 in Wayne County.

The county has received 500 doses of H1N1 vaccine. Inoculations were provided to health care personnel and the remaining vaccine divided among the county's health care clinics for other members of the initial priority groups. These include children over 6 months old, caregivers of children less than 6 months old and pregnant women.

Members of the public interested in receiving the vaccine can contact the health care clinics to find out about availability, Crutchfield said.

Carter County is receiving between 100 and 200 doses of H1N1 vaccine each week, said Sandarciero. Health care workers who have direct patient care, such as nursing home staff, have been vaccinated. The health department plans to begin inoculating lower grades of students, with parents' permission, at Van Buren and East Carter districts within the next week or so, she said.

"We anticipate starting with the lower grades not because they are more susceptible, but because younger kids are worse at hygiene, like thoroughly washing their hands," Sandarciero said.

As more vaccine is available, distribution will be expanded, she said.