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Pocono News Section
Mother Takes Extra Precautions After Students Catch Swine Flu
Mother Takes Extra Precautions After Students Catch Swine Flu - Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 3:59PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, May 28, 2009 @ 03:59pm EST
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - Swine Flu has made it's way into Monroe County. The State Department of Health reports two students from East Stroudsburg Elementary School recently had it. Those kids are now healthy and back in class. Today about 25% of students there missed school. Officials believe parents were just being cautious.
Rahkiah Lee-Harris is a mother who took extra precautions. As soon as she heard about the sick students she got her kids medical masks. She said, "I'm protecting my children."
She added while most people probably don't need to go that far, she thinks it's important for her family. She said, "I'm very sorry, I can't take the risk. I don't want to be sitting in the hospital or God forbid be burying my children."
Her son Rahmeen recently recovered from Pneumonia. She worries if he caught the flu it would be harder for him to recover than for other kids. She said, "Everybody looked at my kids like they were crazy but I told my kids you walk and you hold your head high."
The Lee-Harris family is apparently the only one in the district that has decided to wear those masks. Emergency management officials say for most kids that really isn't necessary, they'll be just fine as long as they make sure to wash their hands often.
Monroe County Emergency Management Director Guy Miller said, "There is no need to panic. There really is no need to panic."
The East Stroudsburg Area School District will excuse students who stayed home Thursday.
Lee-Harris plans to keep her children home until she is sure all the germs are gone.
School officials say staff is disinfecting classrooms and buses. The Superintendent says students who feel sick should see doctors and stay home until their symptoms are gone. | | |
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