Swine Flu in Washoe County, Nevada

In a written statement, released at 4:46p today, Judy Davis, M.A., Public

Information Officer for the Washoe County District Health Department released the following additional information the presence of swine flu (H1N1 virus) in Washoe County in Northern Nevada:

In addition to the new cases of the H1N1 flu confirmed in Washoe County since
yesterday and detailed in Update #16, we now have two additional confirmed
cases:
• One adult who has been hospitalized• One student who attends Billinghurst Middle School. This case was referenced in an update posted yesterday on the Washoe County District Health Department’s Web site, although the name of the school
was not included, pending notification of school staff, students and parents.
That notification has been completed. The student has not attended school this week and is recovering at home.
This brings the Washoe County total to 20 since the first confirmed case was announced on April 29, 2009.
Information About Billinghurst Middle School

Unlike Mendive Middle School in Sparks, there
are no plans to close Billinghurst at this time.
Established guidelines for the current H1N1 event state that school closure should be considered on a case-by-case basis. In comparing the Mendive situation to that of Billinghurst,
there are major differences between the two which indicate the need to manage each differently.
For example, attendance data show that on Monday, May 18,
2009, Mendive had more than 100 absences due to medical reasons, with 64 absent students reporting flu-like symptoms. Tuesday, May 19 showed similar numbers. Those numbers together with the five cases of H1N1 that had been confirmed by
Wednesday, May 20 prompted the temporary closure.
By contrast, Billinghurst’s attendance rates have been within normal ranges and there is only the single case of a student with H1N1.

In response to the number of cases identified at Mendive Middle School in Sparks, Nevada, located approximately an hour north of Lake Tahoe, that school has been closed until Tuesday, May 26th.
For information about the H1N1 virus (swine flu), please visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ . This Web site has a wealth of information that is updated on a regular basis.
If you cannot find the information you need from that Web site, the Washoe County District Health Department has a special phone center staffed by bilingual public health professionals to answer general questions about the H1N1 virus:
phone number: 775.325.8140 Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please be patient, as the volume of calls can be large at times. If you are calling because of a medical emergency, please hang up and dial 911.
H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) Information on Your RadioTune into 1150 AM while you’re driving around our community to hear information about the H1N1 virus and how you can stay well.

Share your opinion by leaving a comment below: Would you send your child to school, after learning another student there was diagnosed with swine flu?

For more info about Swine Flu, Control of Pandemic Flu Virus on Environmental Surfaces in Homes and Public Places; Nevada Preparedness Planning

Information for childcare and preschools
Information forSchool Districts, Legal Response for School Closures; school closure guidance ; Nevada Guidance on School and Childcare Facility Closure

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