H1N1 virus confirmed in schools

Students begin receiving flu vaccines; clinics run out of seasonal inoculations

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

By JASON BABCOCK and JESSE YEATMAN

Staff writers

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Submitted photo

Nurse Jeanette Loving vaccinates an Oakville Elementary School student against the seasonal flu. The St. Mary's County Health Department held a flu clinic at the school on Oct. 6.

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The H1N1 flu virus has been confirmed in St. Mary's County and in public schools by the health department, according to a letter sent out last week by schools Superintendent Michael Martirano.

However, batches of vaccine for the H1N1 flu, also known as swine flu, have arrived and distribution began at Leonardtown high and middle schools on Tuesday.

At the same time, St. Mary's Hospital and the St. Mary's County Health Department have run out of seasonal flu vaccinations and have suspended flu clinics for the general public. Seasonal flu vaccination clinics will go on as planned for school children at every public school in the county this fall.

At least 1,160 seasonal flu shots have been distributed in schools so far, said Karen Everett, public information officer for St. Mary's County government and the health department.

Leonardtown High freshman Jeffrey Hosted waited in line with classmates Tuesday to get both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines.

"I wanted it. I don't want to get swine flu," he said. He said many of his friends were getting at least the seasonal flu vaccine, if not both.

According to a health department worker giving vaccinations at Leonardtown High, more than 600 vaccinations for the seasonal flu were given Tuesday morning in the form of a nasal mist and more than 300 shot vaccinations were given for the swine flu.

Martirano said in a letter sent home to parents dated Oct. 13 that the St. Mary's County Health Department has reported some confirmed cases of H1N1 in St. Mary's public schools. According to a school nurse supervisor, parents have reported confirmed cases at every public school in the county.

Students at most of the public schools had exhibited symptoms consistent with the swine flu as of the end of September, school health officials said at the time. Last week's announcement is the first to suggest confirmed cases of the swine flu in public schools. To be considered confirmed a viral culture test must be checked by the Centers for Disease Control or another health agency with proper testing equipment.

A health department worker Tuesday said that St. Mary's Hospital had sent some cultures to be confirmed, including some from public school children, and that they indeed did come back positive for the H1N1 virus.

Martirano's Oct. 13 letter said, "Students and staff with a temperature of 100 degrees or greater are asked to stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without the use of fever reducing medication."

The vaccination shots contain the inactivated flu virus. The nasal mist contains the live, but weakened flu virus. Two injections can be given, one for seasonal and H1N1 flu, but two nasal sprays can't be given at the same time; there has to be a four-week wait between sprays. Schools are encouraging all students to get both the seasonal flu and H1NI vaccines.

Martirano said last week that the school has consent forms from nearly 9,000 students, or about 60 percent of the enrollment in the public schools, which so far is the highest return rate in the state.

School nurses are monitoring daily attendance and working closely with the health department.

St. Mary's public schools have said if a school were to reach a 10 percent absentee rate, or if a class had 25 percent of its students absent, extra precautions would kick in.

Nationwide, 77 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine were distributed as of the first week of October, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

But the wait for seasonal flu vaccine in the county goes on. "The county is just out of it," Everett said. "We can't get it from the manufacturer. They've ordered it and the manufacturer doesn't have it to send," she said. St. Mary's is not alone; there are distribution problems throughout the state and nation.

St. Mary's Hospital's Health Connections has suspended its mobile outreach until more doses come in. "We have been told more doses are coming," said Holly Meyer, hospital spokesperson.

The last clinic was Friday at the Lexington Park library, where Health Connections had 92 vaccines left.

November is not too late to get a flu vaccination, Meyer said. Seasonal flu normally peaks during the winter months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages vaccination through the months of December and January and beyond. A flu vaccination is good for a year.

The St. Mary's County Health Department scheduled a flu clinic for Tuesday, Oct. 20, for the general public, but it had to be canceled. Health Connections had planned to offer shots at last weekend's St. Mary's County Oyster Festival, but that was canceled as well.

jbabcock@somdnews.com

jyeatman@somdnews.com

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