Worried about swine flu, health officials close O.C. school
Orange County health officials ordered a Fountain Valley elementary school to be closed for a week beginning today after a student was suspected of contracting swine flu.
Officials at Fred Moiola Elementary School reported an increase in illness and absenteeism last week at the campus where the 11-year-old Westminster boy attends class.
“To limit the spread of this and other influenza viruses, it is very important that individuals who are sick stay at home until they are symptom-free,” said Dr. Eric Handler of the Orange County Health Care Agency.
The agency said reopening the school will “depend on whether additional illnesses are detected,” according to a statement.
-- Mike Anton
Check out The Times interactive map to track the global spread of swine flu.
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Oh my god i go to that school.
My friend might have it, I hope Erin Bains (principal) does something...
Posted by: daniel choi | May 04, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Our school just taught my daughter how to not get and give germs with a new program called Germy Wormy Germ Smarts for Kids. I am so glad because I can't afford to have my school closed!
Posted by: maggiebrown | May 04, 2009 at 01:16 PM
How is it that Mrs. Baines had a prerecorded message ready for all of us at 6:00am?
How was it that teachers knew to ask their students if anyone int heir families was ill?
How was "Lunch on the Lawn" was allowed to happen Friday, when there were multiple suspected cases of swine flu?
It is very nice to invite parents to picnic lunch with their children at school, unless by doing so you are infecting hundreds or thousands with a flu pandemic.
Let's all hope, we were lucky. Quite frankly I find it massively irresponsible.
Posted by: Concerned Parent | May 04, 2009 at 02:06 PM