4 months ago
There are no confirmed cases of Swine Flu at J.F.K. High in the Cheektowaga-Sloan School District. But on Tuesday, about one fifth of the student body was home sick; including 27 students who were sent home after they got to school.
"It's basically flu-like symptoms we're seeing," said Jacquelyn Astyk, the school nurse at J.F.K. "Our upsurge followed our homecoming week where a lot of students were together for activities and also with events in the community for Halloween, the haunted houses and that. Students are being together and we're seeing an increase in the flu symptoms."
"So that could be the culprit behind this, at least the upsurge now," 2 On Your Side's Josh Boose asked Astyk.
"That could be yes," she said.
"What are you doing to combat this?" Boose asked Cheektowaga-Sloan Superintendent James Mazgajewski.
"We're following all guidelines that we've been given and we're doing extra cleaning in particularly high traffic areas," he said.
In the Iroquois Central School District, about 18-percent of its student body was out sick Tuesday.
"They report to us their daily absenteeism rates so we've watched the Iroquois numbers go up and we've had daily discussions," said Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billittier.
Billittier says the high absenteeism may be parents playing it safe more than anything else. But that's what the school districts would rather see; keep the kids home if they're sick. And here's how you can tell:
"If they have a fever and if they have a cough, sore throat, something that would really keep the child from being able to pay attention and learn in the classroom," said Astyk.
Doctor Billittier says the county has been in constant contact with the schools and so far, it appears everyone who is sick just has mild to moderate flu symptoms right now. As for closing the schools, he says it wouldn't do any good because the germs would return when the kids come back.
