WENTZVILLE, MO ( KPLR ) -
A rash of flu cases in the Wentzville School District has school officials sending letters home to parents. Several students have fallen ill with influenza type A- the same family of flu that swine flu falls under.
The district superintendent tells us a total of 12 kids have become sick since Tuesday. Many of the illnesses were reported Wednesday. The letters went home with students on Wednesday.
The St. Charles County Health Department says it's likely the kids have the H1N1 Virus.
"We're treating it as though we've got the flu in this school district," said district superintendent Terry Adams.
And that means lots of cleaning.
Crews spent Wednesday afternoon thoroughly wiping down classrooms at Wentzville Middle School.
Ten of the 12 influenza A flu cases in the district have come from students at Wentzville Middle. One student has fallen ill at Holt High School and another at Boone Trail Elementary.
"I was surprised that such a large group of kids were sick," said concerned mother Laura Bradbury.
Laura has a child at both Wentzville Middle and Holt High. She received the district's letter explaining the situation.
"I was concerned as a mom just because I thought oh gosh are my kids going to get it and what's the school going to do. But then I was relieved to get the letter because then at least I knew the school was addressing it," said Laura.
Her daughter, Aly, a freshman at Holt High School, told us this when we asked her if she was worried about getting sick.
"Well, I'm pretty worried because I want to stay in school," said Aly.
Superintendent Adams says the district is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and the St. Charles County Health Department. Health officials say a specific swine flu test is no longer being performed. But they tell us that the vast majority of type A flu cases like the ones in Wentzville are H1N1.
Adams says officials are talking with students about keeping a clean environment at school.
"We've been trying to insist with students that they use basic sanitation such as making sure that if they cough, they cough into their sleeves and then the single most important thing that they can do is wash their hands frequently," explained Adams.
Laura added, "I think the message would be to watch your kids and make sure that if they are showing any signs of having the flu to keep them at home."
All 12 of the kids who got sick are currently out of school and receiving treatment. We're told none of them is hospitalized.
Superintendent Adams says at this point there are no plans to close any of the schools because of the flu.
St. Charles County health officials say it is unusual to see this much flu this early in the school year.
They're encouraging everyone to get their seasonal flu shot as soon as possible to try and fend off other illnesses besides H1N1.
Then, when the expected swine flu vaccine becomes available later this year, people will be able to get that on top of the other flu shot that they already received.
Wentzville School District Website
The St. Charles County Health Department says it's likely the kids have the H1N1 Virus.
"We're treating it as though we've got the flu in this school district," said district superintendent Terry Adams.
And that means lots of cleaning.
Crews spent Wednesday afternoon thoroughly wiping down classrooms at Wentzville Middle School.
Ten of the 12 influenza A flu cases in the district have come from students at Wentzville Middle. One student has fallen ill at Holt High School and another at Boone Trail Elementary.
"I was surprised that such a large group of kids were sick," said concerned mother Laura Bradbury.
Laura has a child at both Wentzville Middle and Holt High. She received the district's letter explaining the situation.
"I was concerned as a mom just because I thought oh gosh are my kids going to get it and what's the school going to do. But then I was relieved to get the letter because then at least I knew the school was addressing it," said Laura.
Her daughter, Aly, a freshman at Holt High School, told us this when we asked her if she was worried about getting sick.
"Well, I'm pretty worried because I want to stay in school," said Aly.
Superintendent Adams says the district is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and the St. Charles County Health Department. Health officials say a specific swine flu test is no longer being performed. But they tell us that the vast majority of type A flu cases like the ones in Wentzville are H1N1.
Adams says officials are talking with students about keeping a clean environment at school.
"We've been trying to insist with students that they use basic sanitation such as making sure that if they cough, they cough into their sleeves and then the single most important thing that they can do is wash their hands frequently," explained Adams.
Laura added, "I think the message would be to watch your kids and make sure that if they are showing any signs of having the flu to keep them at home."
All 12 of the kids who got sick are currently out of school and receiving treatment. We're told none of them is hospitalized.
Superintendent Adams says at this point there are no plans to close any of the schools because of the flu.
St. Charles County health officials say it is unusual to see this much flu this early in the school year.
They're encouraging everyone to get their seasonal flu shot as soon as possible to try and fend off other illnesses besides H1N1.
Then, when the expected swine flu vaccine becomes available later this year, people will be able to get that on top of the other flu shot that they already received.
Wentzville School District Website
