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May 4, 2009 5:53 pm US/Central
Children At Home After Probable Flu Case In Orono
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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All the nearly 2,600 students in the western suburban district were told to stay home Monday after a probable case of the swine flu was found in someone connected to the high school. (File)
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The thrill of a three-day weekend was giving way to boredom for some students in the Orono public schools, one of three districts in the state where at least some schools were closed due to swine flu fears.
Carine Knight of Maple Plain, a stay-at-home mom, said late Monday morning that the "glamor" of staying home was quickly wearing off for her children, a 14-year-old son and twin 12-year-old daughters.
"Pretty soon they're walking around, (saying) 'I'm bored,"' she said.
All the nearly 2,600 students in the western suburban district were told to stay home Monday after a probable case of the swine flu was found in someone connected to the high school. The high school shares a campus with the middle school and two elementary schools.
Health officials also said students were staying home from the Minneapolis district's Emerson Spanish Immersion School, the site of another probable case. Rocori Middle School in Cold Spring was closed with a confirmed case, but should reopen Wednesday.
Several samples of probable swine flu virus were awaiting testing at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but state Health Department spokesman John Stieger said results weren't expected back for a few days.
Health Department officials said the schools will stay closed until the CDC testing is complete or until additional guidance is available.
In the meantime, for students, "It's sort of like a semi-vacation," said Knight.
Meg Pendleton of Long Lake, a freelance writer, was at home with her three children, an 11-year-old daughter, a 14-year-old son and a 16-year-old girl, all Orono students.
"They're loving it," she said. "It's a beautiful day. They're going to do some yard work for me today."
Carrie Case, president of the Orono elementary Parent-Teacher Organization, has two children -- an 8-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl -- both at home. "I'm lucky enough that right now I'm not working outside the home," Case said.
She said her daughters were going to do so some homework, then would probably join her on some errands or go outside.
"It's kind of a bonus day," said Connie Apple, secretary of the Orono elementary PTO. She doesn't have a job outside the home and was staying with her 9-year-old son, Charles.
"He's working on a little homework this morning. He got to watch a little TV on a school day, which usually doesn't happen around here. So he was pleased about that," she said.
State health officials lowered the number of probable cases in Minnesota from eight to six on Sunday, saying that two of the suspected cases -- in Polk and Scott counties -- turned out to be seasonal influenza.
Of the remaining six probable cases, three were in Hennepin County, and there was one each in Isanti, Dakota and Wright counties.
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Health officials suggest people should wash hands frequently, minimize contact with people they think may be sick and stay home from work, school and church if they aren't feeling well.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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