By Andrew Hackmack
Dr. Abby Greenberg, director of the Center for Public Health, gave a detailed presentation on the flu strain, which first appeared in the U.S. nearly two months ago. Greenberg said it is the unknown that is causing fear among the public. "People have no immunity to it because it's so new," she said. Most cases, however, have been mild, she added.
Greenberg noted that there had been 13,398 confirmed cases of swine flu in 48 countries, and 95 deaths - less than 1 percent of all those affected. In contrast, she noted that each year in the U.S. alone there are 36,000 flu-related deaths, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized.
Three Valley Stream elementary schools - Forest Road, Robert W. Carbonaro and Howell Road - had lone confirmed cases of the flu two weeks ago, but did not close. Memorial Junior High School, which had eight confirmed cases, was closed for two days.
Greenberg discussed ways of preventing the spread of the disease, and explained why the Department of Health recommends against closing school. She noted that the closing of St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, one of the first to have an outbreak, did not contain H1N1. "Closing schools doesn't work because students go home and they don't stay in their own houses," she said. "It spreads in the community."
District 30 Board of Education President Ken Cummings said that the district was in a precarious situation when Forest Road School remained open while Memorial, which is in the same community, closed. Cummings noted that many parents questioned why Forest Road was not also closed, and he asked Greenberg how best to respond to those concerns.
Greenberg emphasized that schools are not the most likely places for the virus to spread. The only way to completely stop it from spreading would be to quarantine everyone for a week, and that would be foolish, she said, given how mild the illness is. "Closing the schools will give you a false sense of security," Greenberg added.
She explained that anyone who contracts the flu should stay home for a full seven days after first noticing the symptoms. "People can be contagious while they seem healthy and have no symptoms," she said.
Sally Kaplan, the nurse at Forest Road School, said it is important that parents take that advice. "We understand the economic part of keeping your children home for seven days," she said. "We just ask for cooperation."
Margo McKenzie, a parent from Shaw Avenue School, said she attended the meeting because she wanted to learn the facts about H1N1, how it spread, and how long it is expected to be around. "It was pretty informative to me," McKenzie said. "They answered a lot of questions that I had."
Because many students from Shaw Avenue have brothers or sisters at Memorial, she said, it was important to be informed. However, she said, since most cases have been mild, she is not worried about the flu becoming a serious health issue in the community.
The state and New York City health departments are the only groups that can confirm a case of H1N1. A doctor can determine that a patient has the flu, but can not narrow down the specific strain. Because the tests are so complicated, Greenberg said, it can only be determined through laboratory testing.
She also noted that a vaccine is still a few months away.
Additionally, Greenberg said, many people are still affected by the regular seasonal flu. Forest Road PTA Co-President James Lavery said the fact that children are still experiencing flu symptoms this late in the year alarmed him. "Why are they getting it, and getting a lot of it now, if it's passed the normal season?" he asked.
Greenberg explained that seasonal flu can start as early as September and continue into May. "This year the regular flu season did start late," she said.
District 30 Superintendent Dr. Elaine Kanas, who said she has been in constant contact with the health department since the flu became a concern locally, invited representatives from there to speak because she wanted to give parents the chance to ask any questions they might have. "We always think it's important to give information out to the public," she said. "I'm glad we provided the opportunity. There were some things that I even learned that I didn't know."
Comments about this story? AHackmack@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
