Schools luckily avoid major flu infection

“We’ve been lucky that it hasn’t hit the whole system at one time,” said Assistant Director, Danny Weeks. “It’s been school-by-school, even class-by-class, and grade-by-grade.

“I talked to a principal,” he said, “and she said she had 40 kids out, but it was just two rooms.”

Absenteeism averaged around nine percent, which, according to Weeks, is not unacceptable, particularly compared to neighboring counties. He attributes that to proactive measures employed by the school system.

“We’re continually working with our cleaning crews,” he said. “If there is a classroom, for instance, that has half the class out, we’re making sure that classroom gets extra attention that night.

“Our bus drivers are working continually spraying down their busses daily.”
Regionally, Vanderbilt has logged a decreasing trend in flu-like symptoms for most of the past 30 days. Records show 2,917 patients were seen for these symptoms over the past 28 days, with 2,495 being pediatric patients.

“Our goal right now is if we can make it to fall break we’ll feel very good,” he said.

Tennessee has a free Flu Information Line for all residents in need of information on the seasonal or H1N1 flu. The line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week and information is provided in all languages. For general information about the H1N1 or seasonal flu, call 1-877-252-3432.