Story Created:
Jun 17, 2009 at 2:58 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jun 18, 2009 at 10:35 AM EST
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Department of Health in Otsego County has confirmed 18 positive cases of swine flu in the area.
Of the 18 total cases; 8 students are from Cooperstown High School, 7 from Morris Central School, 2 from Oneonta High School and 1 additional case in which officials declined to discuss.
School districts in Morris and Cooperstown have been sending letters home to parents describing swine flu and what can be done to deal with and prevent it. In addition, the districts have stepped up cleaning efforts to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Some of the tips include staying home if you are sick, especially if there is a fever of 100 degrees or above.
School officials in Morris say they began noticing problems about two weeks ago after dozens of students age 12-13 started showing up at the nurses office with temperatures above 100 degrees.
Approximately 12-15 students per day were sent home during a recent one week stretch, according to School Nurse Kim Schlosser.
The school later found out from the Otsego County Health Department that it had seven positive cases of swine flu.
On Wednesday, results for eight of nine students in Cooperstown exhibiting flu symptoms turned out to be positive.
Classes for most of the 475 students are over with regents exams scheduled for next week. Officials say the number of flu cases has slowed as a result.
Health officials say the cases locally have been mild and no one has died. They also said the 18 confirmed cases is likely just a snapshot of the overall cases in this county since not everyone exhibiting flu like signs are tested for the H1N1 virus.
For a detailed list of each county and their confirmed swine flu cases, please
click this link.
Most Popular