H1N1 flu making rounds in region

SANDPOINT — Panhandle Health  confirms there have been 17 new cases of H1N1 flu in northern Idaho since early September, but it is likely many more people have been infected.

“We know there are thousands of cases, people just don’t get tested for it,” said Cynthia Taggart, PHD public information officer.

Most people do not get tested for the influenza virus because the test is expensive and by the time results are available, the bug has just about run its course, she said. The test costs $300 to $350.

Anyone who has flu symptoms probably has H1N1 because the seasonal flu has yet to make the rounds, Taggart said.

People also can be tested for H1N1 using an Influenza A test, she said. If the test is positive for Influenza A, it indicates the H1N1 is present.

Health officials are recommending that people get vaccinated aginst H1N1, however for months the concern has been that not only would there not be enough doses manufactured for the amount needed, but that the vaccine would not arrive in time.

That concern seems to be warranted.

Panhandle Health District will begin vaccinations  the H1NI flu virus on Thursday in Lake Pend Oreille District schools, but some people are already reporting having flu-like symptoms (see sidebar for schedule).   

It is “very likely there are kids in school with it,” said LPOSD Superintendent Dick Cvitanich.

The school district is following PHD recommendations on not only how to prevent the flu, but also on how to deal with those who have it, he said. LPOSD has purchased large quantities of hand sanitizer for all of its school buildings.

Janice Dunkle, the parent of four school age boys, chose to withdraw her children from Farmin Stidwell Elementary Monday after finding out the 16-year-old son of a part-time employee may have the flu.

Initially it sounded like the boy had the flu, but his mother made a second call to his doctor’s office and it appears that he has a cold, said Farmin Stidwell principal Anne Bagby.

One case of H1N1 has been confirmed at Washington Elementary School, according to a note sent home with students on Monday.

Additionally, 10.8 percent of the school’s students were at home because of illness, the note said.

Even if the child of a district employee were to contract the flu, that employee still would be allowed to work based upon health district guidelines, Cvitanich said.

That does not mean closing schools, he said.

“We’re trying to follow what the health experts say,” Cvitanich said.

Just because a child has the flu, does not mean the parent will get it, he added.

Dunkle has a 17-month-old son at home who recently recovered from the flu and said she is concerned with exposing him to H1N1. She said she does not know how long she will keep her other children out of school.

Unfortunately, Dunkle made that decision based upon information she overheard, “but that’s what fear does,” Bagby said.

Currently no one at Farmin Stidwell has the flu, she said. Symptoms include high fever, coughing, aches and pains, sore throat, fatigue and the chills.

“We probably all have been exposed,” said Bagby. “We just keep washing our hands.”

Cvitanich said he is concerned that few immunization permission forms have been returned to the school district.

LPOSD will send out reminders, he added.

Parents are asked that they not send children to school if they have the following symptoms combined: sore throat, cough, runny nose and a fever. They also are asked to make sure students are fever-free for 24 hours before they are allowed to return to school.

Children who exhibit signs of illness will be confined to the office while parents are contacted and asked to pick up the child.

The health district also will hold a clinic Saturday for people who have underlying issues which may put their health more at risk if they get the flu (see sidebar for details).

For more information about the H1N1 flu virus, go online to www.phd1.idaho.gov/clinical/h1n1fluvirus.cfm