At Connellsville Area School District
Second student diagnosed with H1N1 virus CONNELLSVILLE – A second Connellsville Area School District student has contracted the H1N1 flu virus, according to Superintendent David R. Goodin. “On Monday morning, the (South Side Elementary School) building principal was notified that a student at the school had tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus,” he said. “The student will remain at home for the remainder of this week. The student is under a doctor’s care and will return to school when no longer contagious.”
Goodin said South Side parents were notified Monday by letter from the district.
This is the second student within the district to have a confirmed case of the flu virus. The first case was reported Oct. 5 at Junior High West.
According to the state Department of Health, only two cases of the H1N1 flu have been confirmed in Fayette County.
The Department of Health advises that anyone experiencing symptoms including a fever over 100-degrees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea, not to go into public places.
“People infected with H1N1 are contagious one day before getting sick, and up to seven days after that,” states the department Web site. “This time period can even be longer in children and people with weakened immune systems.”
The school district, said Goodin, advises anyone with the symptoms not to attend school and seek medical attention.
“In general, individuals should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines,” he said.
As a precautionary measure, Goodin said that the South Side building would be disinfected overnight.
The custodial staff will also increase their regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces including door knobs, hand rails, light switches and other surfaces frequently touched by staff and students.