Schools tested for swine flu reopen

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - It's back to school for students and staff at several West Michigan schools that closed earlier this week due to possible swine flu outbreaks in their buildings.

This all comes from a review of students with probable common flu infections.

Rogers Lane Elementary School in Wyoming, Brookside Elementary School in Grand Rapids, Union High School in Grand Rapids, Byron Center High School in Byron Center, Lakewood Elementary School in the West Ottawa District, William C. Abney Academy in Grand Rapids and Vista Charter Academy in Wyoming closed at some time this week.

Rogers, Brookside, Union, Byron Center, Lakewood and Vista Charter reopened Wednesday. Abney will reopen Thursday.

Union's prom, which was planned for Saturday but rescheduled for May 15, will remain on the rescheduled date.

The Michigan Department of Community Health released a statement on Monday suggesting closing schools for seven days regarding swine flu concerns. The final decision is up to each school district. On Tuesday, U.S. health officials said they are no longer recommending that schools close because of swine flu.

MDCH has issued recommendations (subject to change as new information becomes available) for K-12 school districts and child care facilities concerning closures for swine flu, or Influenza A (H1N1) virus, probable and confirmed cases.

• Schools or child care facilities that have a confirmed or probable case should be dismissed or closed for seven calendar days from the date the local health department was notified of the positive test result. A school or child care facility can consider reopening if no additional confirmed or probable cases have been identified within the seven-day period, but should re-evaluate this with the local health department.
• Siblings of individuals with confirmed or probable cases should remain at home and not attend their school or child care facility during this same seven-day period, especially if they attend a different school or facility.
• If a school or child care facility closes, school or child care-related gatherings should also be canceled for the same seven-day period. Parents and students are encouraged to avoid congregating in large numbers outside of the school setting.

All Forest Hills Public Schools opened Monday following such flu concerns last week.

Forest Hills Assistant Superintendent Karen Lott called 24 Hour News 8 with additional information just before 11 p.m. Sunday. She said test results confirmed the ill student from Forest Hills Eastern has tested negative for swine flu.

Here is the press release 24 Hour News 8 received from Kent County:

After a review of students with probable H1N1 flu infections who attend Kent County schools, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) is recommending closure of five area schools. Schools include Rogers Lane Elementary in Wyoming, Brookside Elementary, Grand Rapids Union High School, and William C. Abney Academy in Grand Rapids, and Byron Center High School in Byron Center.

This decision comes in response to new school and childcare facility closure recommendations from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). Given the growing number of counties seeing infections, the MDCH has recommended seven-day closure of schools or childcare facilities that have a confirmed or probable case. This period includes weekends. If no additional confirmed or probable cases are identified in the closure period, schools may consider reopening.

The guidance also states that siblings of confirmed or probable cases should remain at home during the seven-day closure period and not attend their school or childcare facility. Finally, school-related gatherings for the impacted schools should be canceled for the closure period and parents and students are strongly encouraged to avoid congregating in large numbers outside of the school setting.

“This is a very serious measure that we must take to halt the spread of illness and ensure the health and safety of students in Kent County schools,” said Cathy Raevsky, Administrative Health Officer for the Kent County Health Department. “During this time, we need the help of parents to keep children from congregating in large numbers. We also hope everyone in the community, from parents to employers, will be supportive to those impacted by this very unique situation.”

Please see http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu for information on signs and symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus, and guidance on taking care of a sick person in your home.

Here is the press release 24 Hour News 8 received from Forest Hills Public Schools:

All Forest Hills Public Schools will be Open on Monday, May 4, 2009.

Laboratory tests from the State of Michigan remain incomplete for the Eastern Middle/High School student who tested positive for Influenza A last Thursday. The Sate Lab has communicated positive test results in other districts to the Kent County Health Department this evening (Sunday), and these are being announced by the media. These did not include our Eastern student.

It appears that additional test results may not be available until sometime on Monday, May 4. Given the three days that students have been away from school, and the five days that the affected student has been out of school, health officials advise that enough time has elapsed to resume classes at Eastern Middle/High School for Monday, May 4, 2009. Any probable transmission of influenza from students attending school last week would likely have produced symptoms by this weekend. Students who are feeling ill should remain at home and isolated from other students.

All events and activities for Monday, May 4th, will take place as originally scheduled.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this disruption of normal activities.