Pocono News Section

Students Recover From Swine Flu

Students Recover From Swine Flu - Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 3:42PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, May 28, 2009 @ 03:42pm EST
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - A quarter of the students from East Stroudsburg Elementary School missed class Thursday. It appears many parents kept kids home because of Swine Flu concerns. The State Department of Health reported Wednesday two students there recently had Swine Flu. School officials say they are now healthy and back in class.

School Superintendent Rachael Heath alerted parents with a phone call and a website update Wednesday night. She told parents officials are monitoring the situation.

"We alerted them as soon as we were made aware," said Heath. Doctor Heath and many parents wondered why it took the State Department of Health several days to let them know children were sick. Heath asked, "Why didn't we know sooner? Why weren't parents alerted sooner?"

The department said it has to wait for test results before it can make announcements. Once they heard about the sickness school officials ordered extra cleaning in buildings and on buses. Heath said, "They're using additional bleach on all the buses and they will continue to do that."

Monroe County's Emergency Management Director said parents should remain calm. Guy Miller explained, "This is not a panic situation. This is an awareness situation."

Doctors say the best thing you can do to stay safe is to wash your hands often. To make sure kids wash long enough tell them to sing through "Happy Birthday" while they soap up.

Miller added, "If you do feel flu symptoms, get to the doctor, get tested and stay away from people."

The school district will excuse children who stayed home Thursday.

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