Many schools in the area are experiencing increasing student absences from flu-like symptoms, county health officials said Monday. So far, Worcester Central School was the only one to close because of H1N1 flu, shutting for one day in late October.
While the absence rate for students at many schools is climbing, as long as there is adequate staff, there is no reason to close, said Cynthia Moore, Otsego County public health emergency preparedness coordinator.
The only cases of H1N1 in the county were reported at Worcester, but this is not surprising because of the limited testing, she said. "We know it is out here."
"We talk with schools regularly" and constantly assess the situation, she said, adding that school nurses are doing a "great job" monitoring the illness.
Many schools have sent home notices regardless of their rate of illness because the H1N1 is so prevalent in the county, Moore said.
"We asked schools to help get the information out there."
This included Oneonta City School District, which was sending letters home to all households Monday. The school nurse did not return a call requesting information about how many students were out.
But in a letter sent home to middle- and high-school students, Superintendent Michael Shea said, "we want to make you aware that we are seeing increasing number of cases of influenza like illness."
Symptoms include any one of the following: fever of 100 degrees or more, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The letter continues: "If you suspect your child is getting the flu, it is important that he/she does not attend school" and doesn't go to places where others could be exposed, such as sporting events and the mall. Children should also wash hands frequently with soap and water.
An official at Morris Central School, which was hit last year by the swine flu, said the absence rate was low on Monday.
Officials at Delaware County Public Health did not return a call for information about the impact of flu in county schools on Monday. But Sidney Superintendent Sandra Cooper said that while the absence rate among students is about 13 percent _ with a school population of about 1,100 _ the situation is under control, she said. There were days of higher rates of absences last year and as long as teacher rates remain relatively low, school will be open, she said.
"We will continue to monitor the situation," she said. "We continue to encourage good hygiene."
At the Chenango County Health Department, Marianne Kirsch, director of patient services, said while none of the schools in the county have closed, many report a "strong share" of student absenteeism, with a lot of flu.
The flu is arriving earlier than usual, she said. The nearest hospital testing for swine flu is in Binghamton. But if the county tests positive for Influenza A, it is assumed to be swine flu, she said.
There have been about a dozen such cases this season spread around the county, she said.
In dealing with the flu, she recommends people follow state guidelines including staying home when sick.
