The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

October 29, 2009

Absences up at Fayette's Valley High over flu concerns

By Steve Keenan

Like some other area schools, Valley High School in Smithers has experienced high student absenteeism in recent days.

According to principal Lee Loy, about 130 of the school’s 564 students in grades 6-12 were absent on Tuesday, the largest rate of the recent period.

“We have had some absences,” Loy said Thursday. “The 130 on Tuesday (which included suspensions and other reasons besides sickness) was more than usual.”

On an average day, Valley has 50 to 55 students out of the classrooms, said Loy.

“Dr. (Serena) Starcher (the Fayette school system’s associate superintendent) is definitely monitoring the situation daily,” said Loy. “We’re trying to keep up with it.”

As the nation grapples with H1N1, or swine flu, flu-like symptoms or fears of exposure have caused many parents to keep their children home. Loy reminds parents that physicians don’t have to report diseases to school administrators.

“Are we getting diagnoses? No.”

Loy says school personnel have stepped up their disinfectant efforts in areas of the school where germs are more likely to linger.

Schools have remained open, and Loy says his teaching staff hasn’t faced any absences out of the ordinary. He also said tentative dates have been set by the Fayette County Health Department for students and staff to be vaccinated for H1N1.

“If we have adequate personnel, we’ll continue to have school,” said Loy.

Judy Nicholas, infections control specialist for nearby Montgomery General Hospital, said the hospital has had confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, but she wouldn’t reveal if any of those involved students. She did say there has been “no admission for students to the hospital.”

The number of confirmed cases MGH has is nothing out of the ordinary, Nicholas feels. “We’re not by any means in panic mode,” she said.

Individuals are reminded to stay out of hospital emergency rooms as much as possible, unless they are absolutely in need of emergency care. They also should stay home and treat the flu symptoms when they are sick.

Also, hand-washing is crucial. The hand sanitizers carried around by people help fight germs, but frequent hand-washing is very important in preventing further spread of those germs.

“We get too complacent (about washing our hands),” she said.

— E-mail: skeenan@register-herald.com

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