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H1N1 Spreads to Classrooms

H1N1 Spreads to Classrooms - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 10:45AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 @ 10:45am EDT
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Several area school districts are trying to cope with a growing number of confirmed cases of H1N1.

Part of the problem is that most students are not immunized to protect themselves from getting swine flu. It's not because students don't want the vaccine, it's because it's in such short supply.

And now as health experts and school officials expected, confirmed cases of H1N1 are moving through several districts -- including in Scranton.

Count Theresa Engel as among those concerned. "You just can't ignore it, but you can't panic over it," said Engel.

Her children, Lilly and Timothy, attend John Marshall Elementary School. It's one of the buildings in the Scranton School District with confirmed cases of swine flu.

Engel wishes, somehow, the state health department could supply schools with the vaccine. "I don't know why they're not doing that," said Engel. "That would make it a lot simpler for a lot of people."

The availability of H1N1 vaccine shots and flu mist is still a problem for so many parents and their children. "My kids got the flu shot, but nothing available for the H1... the swine flu," said Angela Gieda.

When asked if she was worried about it she said, "A little, because my one kid has asthma and I'm afraid it's going to infect his lungs."

Fears of H1N1 in the school are founded. That's because it's been primarily a young person's disease. Nearly 70% of all confirmed cases in Pennsylvania are people ranging in age from 5 to 24 years old.

Scranton High School is also on the list of confirmed cases of H1N1. The swine flu fear has students wanting to know more about their own personal risk and what will be done to keep them safe.

"We get papers sent home and stuff about it," said Scranton High School sophomore Angel Decerio. "That's really about it."

She said she'd get the vaccine if it were available.

So would her brother, Lewis, who said "I'm worried about it because I think there should be vaccines available especially when kids in the school got it."
 


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