Flu closes NICE

ISHPEMING - The number of students absent due to illness has caused the NICE Community Schools to close for the remainder of the week.

According to Superintendent Michael Haynes, 15 percent of students were absent Monday and 22 percent Tuesday.

"The primary reason for closing is we were seeing a spike in the number of absentees due to flu-like symptoms," Haynes said.

Absences reached as high as 30 percent of students at the Aspen Ridge Middle School.

Closing for the rest of the week will allow sick students to recover and will give school staff time to disinfect hard surfaces in the buildings. Haynes said several factors were taken into consideration regarding the closing, including the health of students and the quality of instruction with so many students absent.

Based on how early the flu has hit and the trend across the country, Marquette County Health Department officials said they believe the strain of the flu hitting the county is H1N1 rather than the seasonal flu.

"It is very reasonable to project that what is happening right now is H1N1," said Corrine Brownell, personal health director.

Brownell said that although all flu cases are not being tested for H1N1, the strain has been found within the county.

"The best way for anyone to protect themselves is handwashing," she said.

Those experiencing a fever should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever subsides to avoid passing the flu to others, she added.

Hospitals in the area have also noticed a spike in patients seeking care for flu-like symptoms.

"It's early. Usually the flu season is later," said Dave Edwards, spokesman for Bell Hospital. "It hit early and hit hard."

Edwards said the hospital has seen a large number of flu patients in the emergency room and the walk-in clinic, which treated more than 40 patients with flu symptoms Tuesday.

In order to limit the spread of the flu within the hospital, Edwards said visitors are being limited, especially children. In addition, people who are experiencing cold or flu symptoms should stay home unless they need immediate medical care, Edwards said.

"We're asking people to use common sense right now," he said.

Other schools in the west end have also seen a higher number of absences, but are so far remaining open

On Monday, 196 students at the Ishpeming Public Schools were absent or left school at some point during the day, which amounts to about 22 percent of the district. On Tuesday the absences numbered 197.

"We've been monitoring every day," Superintendent Stephen Piereson said. "We're paying close attention to this."

Piereson said the district has been in discussions with health department personnel and will be seeking further recommendations today as to whether the district should remain open.

The decision to cancel school will be made based on the number of students affected, if teachers are also getting sick and discussions with the health department, he said.

Negaunee Public Schools has also seen a large number of absences, particularly at the Negaunee Middle School.

There were 70 students absent Monday from the middle school, roughly 23 percent of the school, and 150 absent from the total district. On Tuesday, 174 were absent from the district. Superintendent Jim Derocher said the decision to cancel school will be made when 25 percent of the total district is absent, or about 360 students.

"At this point, I don't see us closing," Derocher said. "We're continuing to monitor it."

Derocher and Piereson said students were experiencing flu-like symptoms that typically last for 24 to 48 hours.

To stay healthy, students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly, sneeze into their sleeves instead of into the air and avoid touching their mouth or eyes.

"We're monitoring the situation on a daily basis," Derocher said.

Marquette Area Public Schools has also experienced an increase in absent students, but not to the degree of students in the west end of the county.

"Our absence records are being checked right now," Superintendent Jon Hartwig said.

In the past couple days, Hartwig said the district experienced about 10 percent absences.

"It appears to be less than that at this point," he said. "So far so good. We're encouraged."

Hartwig said the district was concentrating on making sure kids who are sick stay home.