PARKERSBURG Some Wood County students who missed school this past week are testing positive for the swine flu, a health officer said Saturday.
All the cases testing positive by the state were the H1N1 virus rather than the seasonal flu, Sherif Ibrahim, regional epidemiologist for the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, said. The seasonal flu is active from November to May, Ibrahim said.
"We have yet to see the seasonal flu," he said.
Wood County Schools this past week reported high absenteeism of students with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, nausea and other intestinal disorders. At Worthington Elementary School, more than 40 percent of the student body stayed home while more than 10 percent were off at VanDevender and Parkersburg High School.
Absences were also high in Jackson County and in Mason County where Ashton Elementary School was closed.
Closing a school won't prevent further infections of the swine flu, which spreads fast, Ibrahim said. Closing a school is an administrative decision based on whether instruction is impacted rather than a decision that should be made from a public health perspective, he said.
Vaccinations are the No. 1 preventive measure, he said.
"Closing schools isn't going to stop the spread," Ibrahim said.
The health department by the end of the week is expected to receive its first batch of H1N1 vaccine, which will be administered first to the target groups, he said. About 900 doses may be received, but subsequent shipments are expected, Ibrahim said.
"After we get the target groups vaccinated, anyone who wants the vaccine will get it," he said.
Population groups targeted for the vaccinations through school based clinics, other public clinics and targeted outreach programs, according to the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health: pregnant women; people who live with or provide care for children younger than 6 months; health care and emergency medical workers; people aged 6 months to 24 years of age; and people aged 25 to 64 who are at higher risk because of other health issues.
While several states are reporting outbreaks, West Virginia continues to report regional activity, Ibrahim said.
Around a dozen states are reporting regional occurrences, the Centers for Disease Control said. Most of the others are reporting widespread activity, the CDC said.
At least 76 children have died from the swine flu, the center said. In contrast, pediatric influenza deaths ranged from 46 to 88 in the past three years, according to Anne Schuchat, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
