We've been inundated with news reports of the Swine Flu in recent days, with grim news from Mexico in regards to deaths from it. The news has basically come short of saying it's a pandemic (which was a term we discussed yesterday with my sixth graders). Why would I discuss it with my sixth graders you ask? A letter went home yesterday from the County Health department where I live making parents aware of what to look for and about letting the school nurse know if their child is diagnosed with "Influenza A subtype unknown".
The students were really concerned so we talked about why it's in the news and why people have been dying in Mexico but not the US. I tried to make it not as scary for them, but they were really concerned. I think they felt better about it at the end of the day, but who knows.
Then about 3:30, we get the news that there has been a confirmed case of the swine flu at my daughter's school. They're closing it down until Friday (at the earliest) so they can clean and disinfect. Jack doesn't think it's fair, but he's taking the news quite well that she won't be in school for an entire week, while he'll be coming every day. She's in the 4 year old class in their Child Development Center, but they do have contact with other grade levels during lunch and passing in the halls. The child that was confirmed was a first grader who is in another hall, but no one knows how easily transmitted this thing is. So I called Caroline's pediatrician to find out what exactly I'm looking for in terms of symptoms. Basically flu-like symptoms with sore throat and possible disorientation.
So let the waiting game begin! I know I'll be watching her like a hawk.
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