Some schools in area re-open; officials report no H1N1 flu here

By Kelly Kazek
kelly@athensnews-courier.com

May 04, 2009 07:58 pm

— While elementary schools in the City of Madison and one elementary school in Madison County will remain closed for several more days, most schools in the neighboring county re-opened Monday and local officials say there remain no cases of H1N1 flu here.
Heritage Elementary School on County Line Road, which has reported one confirmed case and several probable cases of H1N1, otherwise known as swine flu, may remain closed until May 14, along with three other Madison City elementary schools.
Harvest Elementary School in Madison County, which also reported a probable case, also will be closed for that time frame. Health officials will re-evaluate May 9 to see if the schools might be able to re-open sooner.
Health officials also found one probable case of H1N1 at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Madison and another at the University of Alabama in Huntsville Pre-School Learning Center. St. John’s will be closed through May 14 and the UAH learning center through May 11.
Of the 13 probable or confirmed cases found statewide as of Monday afternoon, 11 are in Madison County.
In a press conference Sunday, officials said no connection was found between any of the sick elementary students and students in middle or high schools, so remaining schools in Madison City, Huntsville City and Madison County reopened Monday.
H1N1, like other strains of influenza, is being treated with Tamiflu and Relenza.
Athens and Limestone County school administrators have said they are monitoring the situation in Madison closely.
As of Monday afternoon, they have had no reported cases of H1N1 in Limestone County. Dr. Orman Bridges Jr., superintendent of Athens City Schools, said he is continuing to recommend precautions at city schools.
“We’re just keeping our fingers crossed,” he said Monday. “We’re encouraging hand washing and proper hygiene and disinfecting surfaces in classrooms and on school buses. We’re being vigilant.”
Dr. Barry Carroll, superintendent of Limestone County Schools, sent out a systemwide phone bulletin last week, asking parents to be vigilant and to keep children home if “they exhibit flu-like symptoms.”
Both have asked teaching and nursing staffs to be watchful and report any symptoms of the flu, such as high fever.
Fliers were sent home with parents with lists of symptoms but anyone who has not received a list or who has questions can find information at www.lcsk12.org.