10 Oct. 17 - Nov. 6, 2009
Community
www.SanTanSun.com
Epidemic from Page 1
Over the next few days, Matt experienced vomiting good hygiene is as important as
and a temperature that peaked at 103 degrees. Then ever. This includes good hand- Medical community makes
Nina began getting sick with symptoms that fi rst washing habits and keeping adjustments
mirrored Matt’s, then became much worse. A trip to hands from faces.” Meanwhile, SanTan Sun area medical
urgent care and a chest X-ray revealed that Brannock CUSD offi cials are also using centers are implementing their own
had developed pneumonia. Matt was back in school the experiences of last year’s protocols. Drs. Goodman & Partridge, an
in a week, but Nina’s recovery was slower and more H1N1 outbreak in setting OB/Gyn practice with offi ces in Chandler
diffi cult. current policies. and Gilbert, is hiring additional staff and
“This is one nasty bug,” Brannock says. “I do not “We had one student at two stocking extra supplies in anticipation of
want to get it again.” different schools test positive high demand for fl u vaccines.
in late April,” recalls Locke. “At “Prevention and vaccination is key when
CUSD stresses prevention the time, this virus was so new dealing with a potentially deadly virus like
Recognizing the need to get that county health experts took swine fl u,” notes Dr. Clifford Goodman, Jr.
in front of a major epidemic, extra precaution and closed
istockphoto.com
He says this is especially true for pregnant
area school officials are schools. As the health experts
ELBOW, NOT HAND: To avoid
women, who are considered high risk for
working with health offi cials to had more information they no spreading more germs, health H1N1 and are being
contain the threat. longer found it necessary to
offi cials recommend sneezing or
coughing into the elbow rather than
given priority for
“We have an H1N1 close schools with single cases a hand. vaccines.
committee that stays of H1N1. In fact, they changed Meanwhile, local
abreast of the current news course midway through our closure.” hospitals are preparing for a
from Maricopa County CUSD does not anticipate any school closings this spike in emergency room visits
Health Department and CUSD spokesman school year due to fl u. and admissions.
communicates out to staff,”
Terry Locke
“The county no longer reports confi rmed cases of “Chandler Regional Medical
says Terry Locke of the Chandler Unifi ed School H1N1 to schools,” Locke says. “They’re proceeding Center and Mercy Gilbert
District. “There are guidelines in place for seasonal with seasonal fl u protocol. Dr. Bob England from the Medical Center have a joint
fl u, and they’re applicable to H1N1.” Maricopa County Department of Health says school group of experts working
Dr. Clifford
Goodman, Jr.
Chandler schools have already sent a letter to all closures are no longer part of the equation.” together to address and plan for
parents offering policy updates and suggestions on Locke stresses the best way to contain the threat is H1N1,” explains Julie Buckwalter, Chandler Regional’s
limiting fl u spread. It stresses simple precautionary for everyone in the community to take an active role. director of nursing support. “There are several plans
measures like not sending sick kids to school and “It is very important that families and schools in place to accommodate extreme patient volumes.”
teaching children to cough into their elbows rather work together to limit the spread not only of H1N1, To prevent overloading the system, hospital offi cials
than their hands. but other illnesses,” Locke says. “Having a consistent say only those with severe symptoms should come in
“We insist students and staff remain home when and strong message about the importance of washing for treatment.
they’re ill and send them home when they come to hands and keeping children home when they have fl u-
school under the weather,” explains Locke. “And, like symptoms will go a long way toward prevention.”
See Epidemic Page 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80