Pocono News Section

New Flu Regulations Recommended

New Flu Regulations Recommended - Friday, August 7, 2009 at 5:45PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Friday, Aug 7, 2009 @ 05:45pm EST

SOUTH CENTRE TOWNSHIP, COLUMBIA COUNTY -- People playing with their kids at Columbia Park were in agreement with the Centers for Disease Control's new guidelines for school's dealing with the flu. Officials there say students with the flu can go back to class after 24 hours without a fever. That's a lot less than the seven days suggested before.

"They kept my oldest son out of school last year for eight days because he had a cough and a fever," said Kimberly Cushman, who spends her summers in Catawissa. "I thought that was a bit extreme."

Extreme, she says, because a doctor provided a note that said he didn't have the flu. She and child care providers are glad the CDC released updated information on how to handle the flu.

"I don't think schools should close down," said Carol Westgate of Catawissa. "But I think they ought to segregate the ones who have it, keep them home."

Dr. Catherine O'Neil is Bloomsburg University's medical director. She says they're planning ahead in case it's a heavy flu season.

"They are working on vaccines, but there's no guarantee the vaccine will be available or that the vaccine that's available will cover the disease," said Dr. O'Neil, who suggests getting vaccinated earlier, including the one regular flu shot and the two-step swine flu vaccine. "We're also going to put anti-bacterial solutions out anywhere there's computers, copier machines, where you sign in coming to the health offices."