Swine Flu Latest
Reported May 04, 2009
The Madison County EMA held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, and how it would affect school schedules going forward.
Health officials said all schools with reports of probable cases of the H1N1 virus will be closed.
Those schools include all of Madison City Elementary schools and the newest addition to the list, Harvest Elementary.
A student there was confirmed last night as a probable case.
These schools will be closed until May 14th.
Health officials say this will help prevent the virus from spreading.
All other schools will reopen tomorrow. But officials ask parents to keep their child out if they show any signs of the virus.
“The most important thing is don’t send your kids to school if they are sick,” said Larry Robey of the Madison Co. EMA. “The two major symptoms are cough and fever. Don’t give your kid tylenol or some of the fever lowering drugs so they go to school without a fever if they have a cough or fever. They should stay home until their well.”
In Atlanta, the CDC released the latest numbers on confirmed cases nationwide. 226 people across 30 states have contracted the H1N1 virus.
A CDC official said part of the increase was due to them catching up on the amount of samples to test.
The median age of those confirmed to have the virus is 17 years old.
“Very few of the confirmations we have are over fifty,” said Anne Schuchat from the Centers For Disease Control. “They tend to be in people who are younger. Whether this will pan out in the weeks ahead we don’t know but it’s a pattern that looks a little different from seasonal influenza.”
There has been one confirmed death and 30 hospitalized due to H1N1.
