First case of H1N1 in the Janesville school district

By STEVE BENTON ( Contact )   Friday, May 15, 2009
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Podcast Episode


WCLO's Steve Benton reports on the first case of the "Swine Flu" in Janesville is at Washington elementary school.

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— The Janesville school district is taking steps to monitor the potential spread of the H1N1 virus. The first confirmed case was reported at Washington elementary school Thursday afternoon.

Manager of Health Services for the district, Mat Haeger, says the C.D.C. guidelines regarding control of H1N1 influenza no longer include shutting down affected schools. He says the infected student is sent home for seven days, and they're monitoring other students and staff for possible symptoms.

A letter is also going home to parents informing them of the confirmed case, and what they should do if their child becomes ill.







reader COMMENTS (3)
janesvillean
May 15, 2009 at 4:32 p.m.
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biggirl, of course we should still be concerned. Even the "regular" flu kills tens of thousands of Americans every year. This will likely add to the total over the next several flu seasons.
.
Yes, the concern is that it might mutate. (Actually, flu viruses are mutating all the time.) This variety has already grabbed genetic material from human, porcine, and avian strains of influenza. It could very easily combine both virulence and mortality in the same package if it encounters the right conditions or host.
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No, infecting yourself is not recommended. The winter (northern hemisphere) flu vaccine will include an H1N1 signature, per WHO agreement within the last week. The vaccine will generate antibodies without infecting most recipients.

biggirl
May 15, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.
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I don't expect you to know the answer to this since the national and international media don't, but should we still be concerned with swine flu. As I understood it, it has turned out to be fairly benign, with no greater mortality rate than the garden-variety flu. Is the concern that it might mutate? If so, should we infect ourself now in the hopes that we will be resistant to the more virulent strain? (I know most would say no -- that there's no guarantee it will work later and that there's risk now, but it's a question I wondered. My friend years ago infected herself with chicken pox so that she'd be over it before she was pregnant. Seemed like a wise idea in that case.)

rooster
May 15, 2009 at 2:07 p.m.
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hey, the school board can build a germ free school now. the perfect opening.

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