By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-10-20 20:36:13 | Word Count: 892
Students in Valencia County schools are trying to rid themselves of the same symptoms others have felt across the state with the H1N1 influenza virus.
But school administrators are telling parents and teachers not to panic.
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Belen Health Services Coordinator Donna Alfonso said parents should look for early symptoms of a cough and sore throat, and to keep children home if they have a fever. She said children should stay hydrated and take medicine like ibuprofen or Tylenol to keep fevers down.
But Alfonso said a fever shouldn't be the lone reason for a doctors visit unless children have signs of nausea or vomiting.
"Stay out of clinics if you can," Alfonso said. "That's where everyone that is sick is going. You could pick up a secondary infection."
Alfonso recommends parents keep chilren with fevers out of school until they feel well enough to go without medication for one whole day. She said those students should be sent back to school without a doctor's note.
Starting next week, Belen schools will offer seasonal flu vaccinations at each of the 11 school locations. Vaccinations are for seasonal flu only, and don't include H1N1 treatment. Flu shots will include both injectable and a nasal spray form.
Seasonal flu shots will be offered at Gil Sanchez on Oct. 19 from 12 to 3 p.m; and Central Elementary School Oct. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Belen High School will offer shots from 8 a.m. to noon, and at La Merced Elementary from noon to 3 p.m. La Promesa will offer shots from 9 a.m. to noon, and Rio Grande Elementary and Family School will offer shots from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Flu vaccinations will take place at Belen Middle School 8 a.m. to noon, and at Dennis Chavez Elementary School from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 22. H.T. Jaramillo Elementary School will offer shots from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 23, and St. Mary's School will have shots available from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Alfonso said teachers and janitors are continuing to wipe down desks and school equipment and encouraging kids to keep their hands clean.
The New Mexico Department of Health reported visits to state health care providers increased by 16 percent this week, up 6 percent from last week.
But Belen Schools Superintendent Patricia Rael said attendance rates are similar to those this time last year. La Promesa Elementary School ranks the highest with an 93.3 percent attendance rate for the month of October, and H.T. Jaramillo Elementary ranks the lower end of the spectrum at 87.1 percent.
According to Rael, Infinity High School ranks at a 70.6 clip, but she said that rate is traditionally lower, and doesn't necessarily reflect students that have come down with the flu.
Alfonso said she thinks children in Belen could still see the seasonal flu virus, but have seen the worst of H1N1.
"I think we are in the thick of it," Alfonso said of H1N1. "We are at the height of it, and I expect it to start dropping off soon."
Los Lunas Schools Superintendent Bernard Saiz said there is a 15 percent daily absentee rate in the school district, but it is not known how many could be H1N1, also known as swine flu.
The schools are taking precautions by sending students home when they become sick, and not allowing students back to school until their symptoms are gone.
Saiz said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) told him that H1N1 is widespread now, and to treat it like a regular flu.
In a conference call with all school superintendents, it was concluded there would be no school closings unless Secretary of Education Veronica Garcia called for it.
The H1N1 weekly media update from the New Mexico Department of Health reported that there have been five hospitalizations in Valencia County for H1N1, 39 in Bernalillo County and five in Socorro County. There have been 900 vaccines ordered for Valencia County, 15,680 for Bernalillo County and 360 for Socorro County. As of Oct. 14, the department has ordered a total of 42,203 doses, both nasal and injectable.
Saiz said an H1N1 vaccination will not be mandatory for Los Lunas students, and that medical decisions are to be made by doctors and other medical experts.
On Oct. 19, U.S. Rep. Harry Teague will host an H1N1 preparation workshop at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Sundance Elementary School, 3701 Sundance Road, in Los Lunas.
The Department of Health advises people to call their health care practitioners to find out if they will be offering the H1N1 vaccine.
