Campers waiting in Des Peres to board buses to camp on Thursday had to show they were "fever-free" before they could get on the bus. Parents who filled out health questionnaires said they were thankful for the precautions.
"I think it's a great idea then you know your kids are going someplace where they are protected and well cared for," parent Georgia Vaaler said.
Eighteen cases of flu at two camps near Branson, MO prompted the change in camp protocol for the Kanakuk Kamps. As many as fifteen thousand kids attend residential camps at the Kanakuk Ministries facilities in Branson and Colorado. The flu began appearing at Camp K-West and K-Country within the past seven days. All the ill campers were sent home. Field testing showed they had Type A influenza. A more precise series of tests will be conducted Friday at the Missouri's Health Department's lab in Jefferson City to determine if the flu is H-1 N-1, more commonly known as swine flu.
Health Department epidemiologist Eddie Hedrick expects the cases will turn out to be swine flu. "98 percent of all the influenza we are isolating nationwide is the 'H1-N1' strain," he said. Since this is a new strain of flu, it is not unusual to see it appear in the summer months. "This virus is everywhere right now. It is in your community; it's on the local bus you are riding," Hedrick explained.
Kanakuk Ministries chief operating officer Doug Goodwin said the number of ill campers is small compared to the total attending the camps. He also noted the symptoms have been mild...sore throats and a fever for up to 48 hours. Camp administrators have been in contact with parents of ill campers and with those whose children arrived Thursday.
"We just want to let parents know we are going to intensify our efforts about this," Goodwin said. All the counselors at the two camps have been screened and tested for flu and the facility carefully cleaned. "What we are seeing this year is no different that what we have always seen , but because of the heightened awareness and concern for the H one N one virus we have changed our protocol this year," he explained.
Advice to parents of campers and guidelines for camp operators regarding the spread of the H-1 N-1 virus can be found at the Centers for Disease Control
Missouri Health Department
"I think it's a great idea then you know your kids are going someplace where they are protected and well cared for," parent Georgia Vaaler said.
Eighteen cases of flu at two camps near Branson, MO prompted the change in camp protocol for the Kanakuk Kamps. As many as fifteen thousand kids attend residential camps at the Kanakuk Ministries facilities in Branson and Colorado. The flu began appearing at Camp K-West and K-Country within the past seven days. All the ill campers were sent home. Field testing showed they had Type A influenza. A more precise series of tests will be conducted Friday at the Missouri's Health Department's lab in Jefferson City to determine if the flu is H-1 N-1, more commonly known as swine flu.
Health Department epidemiologist Eddie Hedrick expects the cases will turn out to be swine flu. "98 percent of all the influenza we are isolating nationwide is the 'H1-N1' strain," he said. Since this is a new strain of flu, it is not unusual to see it appear in the summer months. "This virus is everywhere right now. It is in your community; it's on the local bus you are riding," Hedrick explained.
Kanakuk Ministries chief operating officer Doug Goodwin said the number of ill campers is small compared to the total attending the camps. He also noted the symptoms have been mild...sore throats and a fever for up to 48 hours. Camp administrators have been in contact with parents of ill campers and with those whose children arrived Thursday.
"We just want to let parents know we are going to intensify our efforts about this," Goodwin said. All the counselors at the two camps have been screened and tested for flu and the facility carefully cleaned. "What we are seeing this year is no different that what we have always seen , but because of the heightened awareness and concern for the H one N one virus we have changed our protocol this year," he explained.
Advice to parents of campers and guidelines for camp operators regarding the spread of the H-1 N-1 virus can be found at the Centers for Disease Control
Missouri Health Department
