Swine flu (H1N1) appears to have found its way into Westport schools though absenteeism so far is less than at some nearby school systems.

“We have had a couple of cases,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carlos Colley said last Thursday, and plenty more that involve flu-like symptoms of unknown type. He added that there had been a recent spike of students staying home sick, especially at the Macomber School where 28 students were out one day, a number that has since receded a bit. On Monday this week absentee numbers at the middle school surged.

Head school nurse Cindy Azevedo said Friday that there have indeed been several students who have tested positive for influenza A in the Westport schools — each school has been involved.

“While these cases weren’t submitted for state testing, if you read the news, most cases of influenza A tested lately are turning out to be H1N1,” she said. She added that since it is early for the usual seasonal flu, there is a good chance that many flu cases being seen now are H1N1.

While absenteeism is certainly higher than normal for this time of year, she has seen worse in her 26 years as a nurse in the town’s schools. “I don’t want to jinx it but we have been relatively fortunate so far.”

Superintendent Colley said that most but not all of those who are out have flu-like symptoms, although there are the usual number of colds, asthma and other ailments. He said there have been few instances that he is aware of in which parents have kept healthy children home to avoid exposure.

Ms. Azevedo’s plea to parents — “If your child is sick, please don’t send him or her to school.”

She said she understands the job pressures facing parents these days but said sending children with a fever to school will only accelerate the flu’s spread.

The superintendent and nurse both spoke of what some call the ‘10 a.m. syndrome.’

“If you give a child a Motrin for fever at 7 a.m., by 10 the fever is back and we’ll have to send the child home.” The schools are sending children home who have fevers of 100.4 degrees or more, or who have a bad cough, cold symptoms or sore throat.

“We have had to send some children home,” Superintendent Colley said. “Overall, parents have been pretty good,” but some are clearly medicating sick children and sending them off to school.

While they take the outbreak very seriously, “We’re not going down the let’s panic road,” he said.

The superintendent offered advice in a letter sent home recently to parents. This highlights the need for constant hand-washing — “My hands are like dried prunes now from washing so often with those alcohol gels.”

And walking the hallways, he notices that students “seem to be learning to cough into their sleeves, not just bark into the wind.”

Custodians are constantly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces throughout the school, he said.

While he has heard of severe outbreaks and of events being called off in some area schools, Supt. Colley said that as of late last week there had been no sports events or field trips canceled here due to the flu outbreak.

And while teams in several schools have told students to skip the high-fives and handshakes, Westport has not gotten that specific — “We’re just asking people to use good common sense.”

Not only are they keeping close watch over students in school, the schools are monitoring those that have been out for three days or more.

“We have been making 15 to 25 phone calls to children’s homes a day to find out how they are doing,” Ms. Azevedo said.

No H1N1 vaccine, no clinics

She and Board of Health nurse Kathy Burns had been making plans to hold a weekend H1N1 flu shot clinic in a town school but that has been called off indefinitely because there is no H1N1 flu vaccine available.

Ms. Burns said Monday that word from the state that very morning was not to expect enough H1N1 vaccine to hold a clinic until December or January. When those doses do arrive, they’ll be give to children first — ages 10 and over.

“I’ve been getting constant calls from people asking where they can get the H1N1 vaccination and I have to tell them that it just isn’t available yet. We can’t hold a clinic until we have the vaccine,” she said. “It’s what I spend most of my day doing.” She said the majority of those calls come from concerned parents. “I understand their concern and wish we could help.”

Ms. Burns has put a recorded message to that affect on her answering machine and said she will get the word out when vaccine does become available.

Asked if they have received the H1N1 vaccine themselves, both nurses (Ms Azevedo and Ms. Burns) said they have not.

“No, we’re in the same situation as everyone else,” Ms. Azevedo said. “Exposure to every sort of cold, flu and bug out there comes with the territory for a school nurse, she said.

A note to school families ...

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carlos Colley sent this not home to Westport school families recently:

Dear Westport School Community,

The yellow, gold, red and brown leaves raining around my yard from nearby trees tell me

the seasons are changing. For many of us it is fun to see the changes, while for others it

means the possibility of spending some time at home feeling miserable with a cold or the

flu. Yes, some of our students are showing signs of flu-like symptoms, so all the precautions

we have asked you to implement at home and in school are most needed at this time. I

invite you to review the information on the flu at www.mass.gov/flu where they suggest

some common sense ways to prevent its spread:

• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or an elbow - not your

hands.

• Wash your hands often with soap or an alcohol based gel.

• Stay home (or keep your kids home) if you are sick (that means no fever for 24

hours with no medicine).

• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose as these are entry points for the virus.

• Disinfect surfaces as directed.

• They also suggest getting vaccinated — but that is up to you.

So let’s work to make sure we all follow these precautions. We wish a healthy fall for all so

that we can enjoy the season and our schools. If your child is showing flu like symptoms we

will contact you to make sure they can go home so you can care for them. Please make sure

we have all your contact information such as home, work and cell phone number. (Perhaps

an email if you spend time on the computer at home or at work.)

Lets stay healthy!

Sincerely,

Dr. Carlos Colley, superintendent