How hard are schools being hit by swine flu?
A few Massachusetts schools have seen flu-related student absentee rates of more than 40 percent so far this fall, and even close to 50 percent. When a school shuts down due to the flu, it should stay closed for 5 to 7 days, because that covers the flu’s incubation period and average length of symptoms. As a result, the state prefers that schools don’t close because closures are so disruptive to families and communities. “In some cases, the children are staying home not because they themselves are sick, but because parent have decided that they prefer to have their child home to avoid having them get sick.” — Dr.
