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Swine flu spreads to Solon summer camp
(by Sue Hoffman - July 01, 2009)
Swine flu spreads to Solon summer camp
By SUE HOFFMAN
The Solon Recreation Department has one confirmed case of H1N1 virus, or swine flu, in its Adventure Camp for fifth- and sixth-graders.
Another suspected case at Safety Town, for kindergartners, turned out to be Type A influenza, not H1N1, according to Recreation Director Donald Holub.
The recreation department has been disinfecting Solon Middle School, where the camps are headquartered, as well as Orchard Middle School, the location of this year's Safety Town.
Six cases of H1N1 virus were confirmed recently by the Cuyahoga County Health Department among Solon Middle School eighth-graders following a class field trip to Philadelphia and New York.
Now that the illness has been identified in the community, Andrea Arendt, program manager for the health department, said it's unnecessary to confirm all cases.
Mr. Holub said an average of 10 to 12 campers out of some 300 were absent each day during the last two-week session, which is "a little higher" than usual. He said three members of the baseball team of 9-year-olds that he coaches also have been out due to illness.
"It seems like the bugs are going around this year. I don't ever remember anyone being out with the flu in the summertime," Mr. Holub said
He has talked with health department officials, who said H1N1 is a "quicker flu, a little bit more severe," he said.
"We're trying to be extra cautious," Mr. Holub said. In addition to disinfecting the camp facilities, the staff has placed hand sanitizers in many locations and encourages all of the campers to wash their hands frequently, Mr. Holub said. "We've been told the virus remains on a surface two to four hours."
He said the department has also taken precautions in the Solon Community Center fitness room by frequently wiping down the equipment with disinfectant and putting extra hand sanitizers in visible locations. As always, customers are being asked to wipe down the equipment before and after use as well.
Last week, Tracy Hejduk, program coordinator for the recreation department camp, sent an e-mail to parents about the confirmed case of H1N1 virus, as well as a case of streptococcus.
"Please be cautious when sending your child to camp if they are claiming they don't feel good," she said. "If your child is sick, please keep them home for the day. Any child who has a fever will be sent home immediately."
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