UPDATE: As of Tuesday, 5/19, Wayland High School has two confirmed cases of H1N1. According to the school nurse, Amy Schoeff, “We have 2 kids who have been confirmed by the state lab with H1N1 (swine) flu. We have at least 18 other kids with flu-like symptoms who are following the instructions to stay out of school for 7 days. I’m guessing there are some kids who have slipped through the cracks who have been sick without notifying us.”
The administration expects there will be more. According to Schoeff, the flu virus seems to cause mild symptoms for most people.

There have been scares of H1N1(swine-origin) influenza all over the world, but now it has found its way to Wayland. Claypit Elementary School has a confirmed case of H1N1(swine-origin) influenza. Instead of closing down the school for 7 days, the student was removed from school and will be kept home for 7 days. Once the symptoms are gone, the student will stay home for another 24 hours to ensure he or she will not spread the illness.

Ruth Mori, Wayland’s public health nurse, said that people can still get sick even though the first outbreaks of the flu were several weeks ago. The 5th grader was not in school when he/she was symptomatic. According to Mori, the student has not been hospitalized and is recovering well. Claypit Elementary is making sure the students wash their hands before eating and other times so germs won’t spread as easily. Mori added that there could possibly be several more cases.

With H1N1(swine-origin) Influenza panic sweeping the world and confirmed cases in Middlesex county, it can be hard to know what exactly is going on. Wayland High School nurse Amy Schoeff explained that Wayland High School has measures in place in the case of an outbreak at our school. Schoeff said if a teacher or student exhibits H1N1(swine-origin) influenza-like symptoms, they will be sent to a hospital for testing. If results come back positive, the student should stay home for 7 days.

The illness has moved up from a level 4 to level 5, meaning it is considered “one notch down from a full fledged global pandemic.” Originating in Mexico, H1N1(swine-origin) influenza is rapidly spreading through the U.S. and Canada, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, Austria, Costa Rica, Ireland, Switzerland, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, China, France, Italy, Colombia, Denmark, El Salvador, and the United Kingdom. Forty-five states have confirmed at least one case. 3352 cases have been reported. A two-year-old boy has died in a hospital in Houston Texas, and a woman from Texas died from H1N1 after giving birth, and a man in his 30’s from Washington has succumbed to the H1N1 (swine-origin) flu. Mexico has 1,204 cases confirmed.

How did the H1N1 start? Well, all that is known is that it is a respiratory illness caused by a virus in pigs, but usually it doesn’t affect humans. While originally the symptoms seemed similar to those of a regular flu: fever, as well as combinations of cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, lack of appetite, and fatigue, some cases have also included reports of vomiting or diarrhea and no fever. Ordinary flu-like symptoms such as a fever and body aches are not an emergency, but if you are experiencing difficulty breathing, fever with a rash, bluish skin color, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, confusion, dizziness, and continual vomiting immediately get medical attention.

The CDC says the flu vaccine is “unlikely to provide protection” against the H1N1(swine-origin) influenza. A vaccine for the H1N1 strain is now being developed, but it may take months to produce. Tamiflu and Relenza are drugs that can be prescribed by your doctor for treating H1N1. The Obama administration is deciding whether 3 flu vaccines will be administered to patients next year; one would be for flu and the other two would be for H1N1.

Junior Jennifer Adler is concerned. “Since it’s been in Massachusetts, near our town, it’s definitely alarming. It does require some concern.” Adler told WSPN that she hasn’t changed her daily routines. Senior Miriam Nathan agrees with Adler. “I am terrified of this flu. When I hear what it has done to the people of America my heart sinks and I hope to the good Lord that this illness does not take my soul. I wash my hands once every 10 minutes in order to protect myself and others. I now carry Purell, which is something I once looked down upon.”

There are a few simple steps that we can take to cut down the risk of infection. Wash your hands thoroughly and often, or use hand sanitizer when soap and water isn’t available. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes, and if you cough, cough into a tissue or your elbow.

If you feel sick stay home! Do not decide to ride it out at school; it will only spread the disease. Once the symptoms are gone, stay at home for at least 48 hours to prevent the disease from circulating. Avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.