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(KTVI - FOX2now.com) -
More outbreaks of suspected Swine Flu in Missouri schools have some districts taking action. The South Iron R-1 schools in Annapolis in southern Missouri have closed for the rest of the week because of sick kids. Closer to St. Louis, schools in St. Clair, Missouri have lots of kids out with the flu. The first signs of sick kids in St. Clair schools showed up a week ago and the illness moved fast. Tuesday about twice the normal number of kids were out sick.
Custodians are working hard disinfecting classrooms. The superintendent of the St. Clair R-13 District, Michael Murphy, says three kids at the junior high school tested positive for Type A Influenza on Tuesday of last week. Swine flu is part of the Type A flu family. Murphy says the junior high has been hit the hardest, but kids have also gotten sick at the other three district school. Tuesday, nearly 200 students out of the 25 hundred in the district missed school.
The flu cases were on the minds of parents at a junior high basketball game Tuesday night. Two of Bill Hinson's kids have fallen ill- he says it's scary for everyone.
"We're taking her temperature all the time, making her drink all the time, making sure she's got the proper fluids in her and you know just trying to keep her from getting any sicker, just a constant vigil," said Bill.
Superintendent Murphy added, "When you look at everything is occurring, it is having an influence on everyone you know from teachers to students and i think the parents."
Murphy says he's concerned about what the winter flu season will hold with so many kids being out already. He is urging parents to keep their kids out of school for three to five days if they have flu like symptoms. He also says kids should not return to class until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medicine.
No sick kids have been hospitalized.
Custodians are working hard disinfecting classrooms. The superintendent of the St. Clair R-13 District, Michael Murphy, says three kids at the junior high school tested positive for Type A Influenza on Tuesday of last week. Swine flu is part of the Type A flu family. Murphy says the junior high has been hit the hardest, but kids have also gotten sick at the other three district school. Tuesday, nearly 200 students out of the 25 hundred in the district missed school.
The flu cases were on the minds of parents at a junior high basketball game Tuesday night. Two of Bill Hinson's kids have fallen ill- he says it's scary for everyone.
"We're taking her temperature all the time, making her drink all the time, making sure she's got the proper fluids in her and you know just trying to keep her from getting any sicker, just a constant vigil," said Bill.
Superintendent Murphy added, "When you look at everything is occurring, it is having an influence on everyone you know from teachers to students and i think the parents."
Murphy says he's concerned about what the winter flu season will hold with so many kids being out already. He is urging parents to keep their kids out of school for three to five days if they have flu like symptoms. He also says kids should not return to class until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medicine.
No sick kids have been hospitalized.
