Malta Bend School takes a break to break grip of illness | Other area schools prepare for flu season onset (UPDATE: 10:25 a.m. Sept. 3)

Malta Bend School will not be in session Thursday, Sept. 3, or Friday, Sept. 4, in an effort to stop the spread of illness through students and staff, school officials said.

"We sent home 25 percent of students with fever," said Superintendent Melissa Vesser. "In an effort to stop the spread, we are not in session."

A total of 26 students were sent home from school Wednesday, Sept. 2, with fevers of about 100 degrees or more, Vesser said. One staff member is also sick.

Vesser said a letter from the district was sent home to parents.

"There have been no confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus that I'm aware of in my district at this time," Vesser added, a reference to a pandemic strain of flu that health officials are concerned could have a resurgence this fall.

"Like all districts in the area, we are in contact with the health department and if they would confirm a case in our district we would send a letter out," she added.

Vesser said the school has been taking precautionary measures against the spread of disease since the year began. There are bottles of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in each classroom, and students have been encouraged to wash hands frequently.

While school is closed, Vesser said custodial staff will do some deep cleaning in the building.

Other area schools have not experienced a spike in reported illnesses, but each is taking precautions.

Sweet Springs R-7 school district has a normal attendance level at about 97 percent, said Superintendent Boyd Jones.

"We are certainly not aware of anything unusual going on or anything H1N1-related," he said.

Hand sanitizer dispensers were installed in Sweet Springs schools in 2006, said Jones, and continue to be used today. Among other locations in the schools, dispensers are installed in the lunch lines, he added.

Marshall school district posted a letter to parents on its Web site dated Sept. 1 outlining the district's preparation for the flu season and offering precautionary tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Slater Superintendent of Schools John McEachern said reports there were two confirmed cases of H1N1 virus in Slater schools were false.

In a press release issued Thursday morning, Sept. 3, McEachern said, "... it has been determined there was only one case of a student testing positive for either Type A or Type B influenza ..."

That test was forwarded to Saline County Health Department to be tested for the presence of H1N1 virus, but hasn't been confirmed either way as of Thursday morning, McEachern said.

The superintendent added that Slater schools are experiencing a slightly higher than normal absentee rate, but emphasized the increase is very slight.

"If your child is sick, keep (him or her) at home," McEachern said. "(We are) maintaining ... diligence in monitoring students to insure everyone's health and safety."

McEachern said an updated informational letter was sent to all parents regarding the situation.

Orearville and Hardeman schools reported Thursday attendance levels are at or near 100 percent. In Miami, only one student was absent Thursday, with a diagnosis of strep throat. Gilliam also reported only one absence for the day.

Related stories:

County health officials prepare for flu season:
www.marshallnews.com/story/1565173.html
More stories:
www.marshallnews.com/topic/flu_news09/

On the Net:
www.marshallschools.com/h1n1info.pdf

www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
www.dhss.mo.gov/BT_Response/_SwineFlu09....
www.msta.org/news/default.aspx?ID=1780

More information to follow.