News

October 14, 2009

Pittston students return to classes

But about a half dozen at Greater Nanticoke have confirmed cases of swine flu.

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

YATESVILLE – While students at one school district returned to classes Tuesday after the schools had been shut down to combat the swine flu, another district was hit with its first cases of the illness.

Absenteeism at Pittston Area School District was still higher than normal with about 550 students, or 17 percent, not attending classes Tuesday.

But it was much better than last week when nearly 900, or about 27 percent, were absent on Thursday, District Principal Jack Lussi said. Pittston Area officials have said normal absenteeism is around 7 percent or less.

Five or six students from the Greater Nanticoke Area School District were confirmed Tuesday as having influenza A, commonly known as the H1N1virus or swine flu, according to Superintendent Tony Perrone.

One student at every school is affected, he said.

Last week, Pittston Area High School had more than 300 students missing classes. On Tuesday, only 161 high school students were absent. Absenteeism for Pittston Area students in grades ninth through 12th has almost been cut in half. The number at the middle school was a little bit higher with 176 students out sick.

“Overall, district-wide it’s a big improvement. We are still heavier than normal – about 17 percent district-wide – but I think at our peak we were well over … There is a dramatic improvement at the high school,” Lussi said.

He said the district learned Tuesday another four students were confirmed from their parents as suffering from the swine flu. That brings the total of Pittston Area students affected to 19.

Pittston Area has several young staff members in their 20s, but they don’t seem to be affected by the virus.

National and state health officials have said young people ranging from 2 to 24 years old are the most likely to suffer from the illness.

“Luckily it hasn’t hit the staff yet. Maybe it’s the young ones who are more susceptible. I really don’t know,” Lussi said.

Nanticoke Area employees Tuesday put up signs the district received from the state’s Department of Health telling students how to avoid contracting the flu.

Stronger disinfectant cleaner was purchased and is used on a nightly basis throughout all of the buildings in Nanticoke Area after the district had a MRSA scare about nine months ago.

MRSA is a staph infection that can be fatal. The student was successfully treated. Both districts vow to remain vigilant on sanitizing all surfaces in the buildings and encouraging students to use sanitizer dispensers located in each classroom.

Wilkes-Barre Area School District has had several students miss class because of high fevers, but there are no confirmed cases of swine flu, Superintendent Jeff Namey said.

Luzerne County Community College cancelled its Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Tuesday night because several board members were ill and could not attend, according to college spokeswoman Lisa Nelson. She couldn’t say what caused them to be ill.

Over the Columbus Day weekend, LCCC and Wyoming Seminary Lower School learned of two confirmed cases of H1N1 at their schools.

Nanticoke Area employees posted signs Tuesday from the state Department of Health telling students how to avoid contracting the flu.

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