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Oct 28, 2009 11:10 pm US/Central
2 Twin Cities Schools Close Due To Flu Outbreak
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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St. Paul Academy and Summit School announced that its high school will be closed on Thursday
CBS
The spread of H1N1 is now hitting schools in the Twin Cities hard. Two are cancelling classes this week in hopes of stopping the virus.
St. Paul Academy and Summit School announced that its high school will be closed on Thursday. An already-scheduled conference day Friday means a total of four days off. The same goes for Salem Lutheran School in Stillwater. That school is also cancelling class the rest of the week.
At St. Paul Academy and Summit School, moms and dads are more than happy to have their kids home. Thirty percent of the schools' high school students are already home battling the flu.
"I'm very concerned about that, but I think the school made the right decision to close it because we don't want to spread the flu around," said parent Francois Nguien.
For the past week, the number of 9th through 12th grade absentees has been on the rise and it peaked on Wednesday. That is why the high school is getting a day off Thursday. High school students already had Friday off for parent-teacher conferences. The hope is those 100 plus kids out sick will have four days to rest, relax and get better.
The Minnesota Department of Health has no influence of the school, but applauds the decision.
"I think that is a wise thing to do because they have already determined that they can't have school, they already have a day off, and I think it makes sense for them," said Kris Ehresmann, director of infectious disease.
Health experts said the H1N1 virus can live anywhere from a few seconds to 48 hours in a high school. They say the virus actually lives longer on surfaces like paper, wood, and skin compared to metal surfaces. Their recommended defense against the virus is good hand-washing.
"I think that's the reasonable thing to do because it's a highly communicable disease and I think anything we can do to prevent the spread to those who aren't sick is good," said parent Tomas Rosenberg.
St. Paul Academy and Summit School students in grades K through 8 will still have class on Thursday. About five percent of students in those grades are home sick right now.
While high school students are gone, the Department of Health recommends that they stay away from each other to help stop the spread before they return to school on Monday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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