Small Town News

Lots of flu out there

---

There have been 1,235 influenza A cases reported in Grant County from healthcare facilities since September, with 80 positive tests reported between Sept. 27-Oct. 3, health district officials stated late last week.

While many illnesses have been mild, several individuals have been hospitalized. Five school districts in Grant County have reported higher-than-usual influenza-like illnesses.

"This is an indicator of what is going on in our communities," stated Peggy Grigg, administrator for the Grant County Health District.

Grand Coulee Dam School District schools are no exception.

A week ago Monday, 99 students were absent from Lake Roosevelt High School.

Late in the week, the Grand Coulee Dam Middle School showed a higher number of students missing classes. Of the 186 students enrolled, 38, or 20 percent, were absent with flu-like symptoms. Fourteen more were absent for other causes. For the same day, 8 percent of Center School students were absent with flu symptoms (23) with two additional students missing classes for other reasons.

At the high school, for that day, 10 percent, or 20, students were absent with the flu and another 57 were absent for other causes.

"We are telling students if they are showing any signs of flu to stay home, and that might account for some of our numbers," school nurse Cheryl Fercha said. She sent out a letter to all parents late last week reminding them to keep students home if they show signs of the flu.

A doctor at Coulee Medical Center said the clinic is seeing large numbers of patients with the flu.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control reports that most influenza A cases identified that have been tested have been confirmed to be the 2009 H1N1 influenza strain initially called "swine flu."

In Washington state, from Sept. 19 - 26, the Department of Health received reports of 42 individuals hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza. Of these 28 reside east of the mountains and 14 on the west side.

"We know there are many more cases of influenza in our communities," Grigg stated. "This gives us an indication of flu activity in Grant County and the need to speed up community infection control measures."

It becomes less important that healthcare providers test ill individuals once widespread influenza is confirmed in the community, the health district stated.

Schools report to county public health when their illness absentee rates reach 10% or greater. Some schools are reporting that close to 20% of their students were ill.



Copyright 2009 The Star, Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Star Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from The Star