by Dr. Heerboth
I checked in with the McDonough County Health Department this morning. County school districts are starting to see dramatic increases in the number of children and teachers who are out sick. West Prairie absenteeism has increased a little over last week, but we have a much lower rate of sickness than the surrounding school districts in McDonough County. We do not have any confirmed cases of flu (that I am aware of) so far, but it's only a matter of time.
As of this morning, the health department does not have any available H1N1 flu vaccine. They report that they do not know when it will arrive.
I think the smart thing to do is to keep the children home if they are sick. Our teachers and staff will stay home, too. I will continue to communicate with all of you through this blog or directly by email should we begin to face real problems due to illness.
My philosophy is to let our parents and families know the facts about flu in West Prairie. I do not want a lot of rumors flying around. We will do our best to protect the privacy of students and staff. Otherwise, I am committed to letting everyone know what is happening.
