R.I. student tested for possible swine flu
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R.I. Student Tested For Swine Flu
A student is being tested for a potential case of swine flu after visiting Mexico.
NBC 10
Gov. Don Carcieri said at a news conference Wednesday that a North Kingstown High School student is being tested for a potential case of swine flu.
Published: April 29, 2009
Updated: April 29, 2009
PROVIDENCE—A Rhode Island high school student who visited Mexico is being tested and monitored for a potential case of swine flu.
Gov. Don Carcieri said at a news conference Wednesday that the North Kingstown High School student presented flu-like symptoms upon returning from Mexico with family.
NBC 10 has learned that the student is a girl.
Results of a test sample sent Tuesday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected within 48 hours.
The governor said he recommended the high school be closed for the rest of the week out of “abundance of caution.“ School officials agreed. All school-related activities have been cancelled at the school. The SATs scheduled at the school for Saturday at 7 a.m. have been rescheduled for May 16.
Some students said they were disappointed about the cancelling of events. Others were excited about their extended weekend.
“It was kind of scary, realizing that someone in our school might have swine flu,“ said North Kingstown senior Kailee Cone. “But it’s also cool that we get out of school for two days and start the weekend a little bit early.“
Even though the student returned to school last week with symptoms, health officials said they are not concerned about the spread of the flu in this particular case.
“The direct family members that this individual lives with, none of them are ill,“ said Dr. David Gifford, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “All of them traveled with this individual. They all live with that individual. They’ve been back for more than seven days. The incubation period is seven days and none of them are ill. I’m not concerned about the spread at this time.“
Throughout the news conference, Carcieri and health officials preached the importance of prevention.
“It is critically important that the public be informed about swine flu and vigilant in practices to prevent infection and spreading the disease,“ Carcieri said.
To prevent the spread of the flu, health officials are urging people to cough or sneeze into their elbows, use alcoholic hand gels and to wash their hands often.
Health officials are asking Rhode Islanders who are experiencing flu-like symptoms like headaches, fever, cough, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea to stay home.
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Reader Reactions
jackie62, I am sorry about your son. Wasn’t he vaccinated for chicken pox at the age of 18 months?
jackie62, you are so completely wrong its horrible. This student returned form Mexico 12 days ago, so NO the parents did not know that the child had a flu or any flu like symptoms. And the child is 17-years-old so if the parents wanted to go to work they very well could have just let the girl they home. So all of your comments are wrong and rude.
These guys are too afraid to tell the public and i quote “WE DONT KNOW” wake up, in all reality they dont know all the effects before and after that are specific to this flu, ok tamaflu whats that, putting a band aid over a cut that needs stiches??????? we dont even have stockpiles of A CURE because its a NEW virus you should be very worried. we have excellent healthcare in the united states but we have no vaccine. If this virus mutates or transforms into a serious deadly one they will quarantine whole cites and towns. That is the most extreme and not necessarily will happen. But still this virus is unknown so its best to play it safe and take precautionary measures. Dont be like Dan Jaehnig and go to the infected’s house to do an interview wow i bet he will get it too. All i got to say is if the crap hits the fan im going underground! lol j/k Go Sox!
The Hasbro Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, like all of the emergency departments in Rhode Island care for patients regardless of their ability to pay.
The medical staff is following the guidelines for testing and treatment of patients with symptoms and histories concerning for flu according to the guidelines developed by the RI Department of Health.
Susan Duffy, MD
Medical Director
Hasbro Children’s Hospital Emergency Department
Wow jackie62 just wow. There are no limits to ignorance I guess. Wow. Oh did I mention Wow.
The direct family members that this individual lives with, none of them are ill,“ said Dr. David Gifford, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “All of them traveled with this individual. They all live with that individual. They’ve been back for more than seven days. The incubation period is seven days and none of them are ill. I’m not concerned about the spread at this time.“
If this is what the Director of the RI Dept of Health is saying then why did our governor recommend closing the school? Is he a public health physician now? This is the type of thing that causes wide spread panic. According to Dr. Gifford the incubation period for this student to spread the disease, if in fact she has it, has passed. The media is spreading panic. If they reported the flu each winter like this the state would shut down from Nov - March every year. Please, continue to wash hands, use hand sanitizer and follow recommendations of the CDC, Dept of Health and your own physicians and not a political figure!
I am completely appalled that a parent upon returning from Mexico, knowing about the flu, SENT THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL! Doesn’t anyone else find this to be the epitome of social irresponsibility. And don’t say they didn’t know, as this is an excuse. This is a huge problem in this country, no one thinks about anyone else. These parents upon returning from vacation likely needed to return to work, and decided “what’s the harm, we probably don’t have it”. This would be exactly how my son cought the chicken pox in 1986 and passed away as a result, he was only 18mos at the time and in preschool. The child that brought in the virus had two working parents who didn’t care who they infected, as long as THEY were able to go to work. They knew their child was ill (he had a fever) but they sent him in anyway. If any children in the North Kingstown school become ill, or worse, the parents of the child who will be confirmed as infected should be charged with criminally negligent homicide!
Scrabble, thanks for the info. I will pass it along. My original comment was made during the press conference and I guess I am always surprised by what the media does NOT ask. There are many here in this state without health coverage now and most will not go for any treatment at all, instead trying to tough it out at home. That in itself will make spreading the virus hard to stop. (or any illness in the future) I also agree that staying home is a good idea but many don’t have that luxury either. My daughter is a nurse at a RI hospital, and if she is sick and many times cannot call out or she’ll be written up. It’s outrageous to think that nurses should have to work sick but many do.
First the test results are not back yet. It is a POSSIBLE Swine flu case. Don’t get all hyped up until the test comes back…takes about 48 hours. There is a company in CT that is working on a vaccine for the swine flu but it will take a good 6 weeks. Meanwhile, wash your hands, reduce your stress levels (high stress lowers your immune system), eat you fruits and veggies, garlic, onions, take a multi-vitamin, and drink plenty of fluids, esp. water. And, of course, avoid people that have any signs or symptoms of the Flu.
It would help if people became informed before spreading hysteria. First there are several locations throughout the state to receive free or low cost health care. If you go to http://www.health.state.ri.us/disease/primarycare/healthcenters.php you will find a list of clinics. Second there is NO VACCINE for the H1N1 influenza virus to date. If one was to be developed it would take around 3-6 months to produce depending who you believe.
Wash your hands, and stay out of Mexico for a start. Avoid groups if possible and do your research before getting in a panic. My 2 cents….
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