Monday, May 4, 2009

Probable swine flu turns up in a Norfolk private school

May 4, 2009

NORFOLK

A child who recently visited the southwestern United States has Norfolk’s first probable case of swine flu, city health officials announced Sunday .

It is “very probable” that the child, who was exposed to an ill family member during the trip, has the H1N1 virus, said state Department of Health spokesman Larry Hill.

The child did not require hospitalization and is recovering well at home, according to a state department of health news release. Both the child, whose age was not released, and the family are remaining in voluntary isolation.

The child’s school, East Beach Montessori School, will close for a week in accordance with a recommendation from the city’s department of public health, school Director Nailah Saeed said. The health department is not aware of any other cases of the virus at the school or at any other schools or day care centers in the area.

“We will continue to monitor this situation on a daily basis and will adjust our recommendation as necessary,” said David Trump, acting director of the Norfolk Department of Public Health, in the release.

Health officials are planning a news conference this morning where Trump will discuss the case, the release says.

Saeed said she had been informed about the child’s illness Sunday evening and was notifying parents that night.

The parents she spoke with were “pretty calm. Of course, you know, they’re worried,” she said. But “they’ve been taking it very well.”

Fifty-eight students attend the school, which has programs for students ages 2 to 7. The school is in the East Ocean View section of the city.

Saeed would not comment on how long the student had been back in Virginia or whether the child had exhibited any flu-like symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends schools and child care facilities with confirmed cases of swine flu close for up to 14 days because children are likely to be infectious seven to 10 days after the onset of the illness. Children younger than 5 are “very susceptible” to flu and are more likely to require hospitalization, according to the city health department.

Reached late Sunday evening, a spokeswoman for Norfolk Public Schools said school officials would meet to discuss the case today. The division has been taking its cues from the city health department, spokeswoman Jennifer Francis said.

If this case is confirmed, it will bring the total number of confirmed cases of swine flu in Virginia to four.

The virus was confirmed in a Washington and Lee University student Saturday. The other cases were a man from the Three Rivers Health District, which covers the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula regions, and a woman from the Chesterfield Health District, which includes the counties of Chesterfield and Powhatan. Health officials also said there was a second Washington and Lee student who probably had swine flu, but the case has not been confirmed.

The Washington and Lee students had traveled in states other than Virginia. The man and woman had both traveled to Mexico. All three are reportedly recovering well.

The state health department urged people to continue taking precautions such as staying at home if they notice symptoms, covering their mouths while coughing or sneezing and washing hands frequently.

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