First confirmed Swine Flu Case in Greenwich Public School

TOWN OF GREENWICH NEWS RELEASE:

Director of Health Caroline Baisley and Superintendent of Schools Betty J. Sternberg announced today the first confirmed case of H1N1 flu (swine flu) in a Greenwich public school student. The student is enrolled at Western Middle School. The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health Laboratory reported the positive case. The student experienced mild symptoms, was treated and did not require hospitalization.

On Monday of this week, approximately 130 sixth-grade students from Western Middle School went on a five-day scheduled trip to Nature’s Classroom. By Wednesday, the nurse at the facility reported to the Board of Education that approximately 55 students had been to the health office complaining of a spectrum of symptoms ranging from minor headaches to fever. Nineteen of these students were ill enough to be sent home. Consulting with the Department of Health, the Board of Education decided to abbreviate the trip bringing all of the students home on Wednesday instead of Friday. Parents of ill students were advised to keep their children home and seek an assessment from their healthcare provider.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidance states:

“School and child care program closure is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school or child care program’s ability to function.” Given this guidance the Greenwich Public Schools has decided not to close any schools at this time.

The Department of Health and the Board of Education are continuing to closely monitor all illness in Greenwich schools. Measures to prevent the transmission of disease will be applied accordingly. Information is being collected daily from the school nurses, physicians, and Greenwich Hospital.

The Department of Health and the Board of Education continues to ask residents to take precautions to prevent getting respiratory illnesses including the flu or spreading it by staying home from work or school if they are sick, washing their hands frequently, and coughing or sneezing into their sleeve or a tissue.

For more information on H1N1 flu:

• Greenwich Department of Health: www.greenwichct.org
• Connecticut Flu Watch: www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch/swineflu
• Connecticut Department of Public Health: www.ct.gov/health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention School Guidance: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/k12_dismissal.htm

Call Department of Health 622-7836