Seven New Swine Flu Cases At Foran High

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.

Flu Concern Curtails Foran Schedule

MILFORD - Joseph A. Foran High School will begin operating on a half-day schedule Wednesday until further notice as health officials try to minimize the threat of the H1N1 virus.

Officials said the school will start closing at noon to minimize time students spend togehter, after 12 youths in the past three days exhibited flu-like symptoms, which the Milford Health Department is referring to as influenza-like illness.

Affected students have been tested for swine flu, though results take a few days to confirm, said city Health Director Dr. A. Dennis McBride.

If more students become ill, it is possible the school could be shut down for a period of time, officials said, but that decision will be made on a day-by-day basis. Foran parents were notified Tuesday evening about the precautions through the city’s Connect-Ed telephone notification system, Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said.

"Though we do not have a confirmed case of H1N1 Influenza A virus at this time, we are implementing these measures proactively to decrease contact among children and to limit the spread of infection. This strategy provides a way to protect the health of the students & staff while minimizing the impact on their education," McBride said.

Foran students will arrive at school Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and be sent home at noon with no lunch period in an effort to keep large groups of students from congregating and lower the risk of transmitting the flu. The Health Department is not otherwise prohibiting use of the school building, McBride said.

Richetelli said officials hope the school will return to the normal full-day schedule next week, though it could happen as early as this week.

Richetelli said parents should visit Milford’s public school Web site, www.milforded.org for more information and another automated phone call regarding the schedule might go out.

Richetelli and McBride said there haven’t been reports at any other Milford schools of students with flu-like symptoms to cause concern or increased numbers of student absences.

School officials will ramp up cleaning the school."The mitigation strategy recommended by Dr. McBride is based on sound public health practice without hindering our education mission," said Superintendent of Schools

Harvey B. Polansky, in a prepared statement "The implementation of this strategy is necessary to decrease contact among our children thereby limiting the spread of infection."

Officials also advise parents to assume that the virus is present in the community and said anyone with underlying health conditions such as asthma or diabetes should take extra precaution and be monitored by a doctor.

Foran’s senior awards ceremony that had been scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday also is postponed.

By Susan Misur