MILFORD -- Seven new cases of H1N1 swine flu have been confirmed at Joseph A. Foran High School, officials said Tuesday. But the outbreak seems to be dying down, with only two or three new cases of "flu-like illness'' being reported at the 1,000 student high school on Monday, and with absenteeism stabilizing.
The seven students were part of the first 20 who became ill last week, said Dr. A. Dennis McBride, the city health director. Samples from the students were tested by the Milford health department, which confirmed the diagnosis. All of the ill students are recovering; at least one sought treatment at a hospital as an out-patient, he said.
McBride said that Foran High will remain on a half-day schedule for the remainder of the school year, which ends June 25. The measure, instituted early last week, has been effective in "tamping down'' the spread of the virus by reducing the face-to-face contact among students, he said.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said local health officials have been proactive in handling the outbreak.
"Hopefully our community can be spared more illness by combining good public policy with common sense precautions by our citizens," he said.
The health director isn't so sure that alone will be enough. Although the end of the school year will likely mean a steep drop-off in flu cases, the virus could recur when the buildings reopen in the fall, he said. None of the other 13 public schools here have seen an outbreak of swine flu.
"The virus is among us and is likely to sporadically reappear or fold into a seasonal variation of [typical] flu,"
McBride said.
Original artcle can be found HERE Written By Frank Juliano Photo of from web showing Swine Flu Spores.
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