How was Swine flu confirmed in Broward county?
Federal official questions shuttering schools FORT LAUDERDALE – As a handful of South Florida schools stayed closed because of swine flu, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the agency is reconsidering its advice on shuttering schools to contain the virus. The more health officials learn about the H1N1 virus, the less effective it seems to close schools to help control the spread of the virus, Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the center, said during a conference call with reporters Monday afternoon. Broward Schools Superintendent James Notter said today he didn’t think closing Hallandale High School through Wednesday was an overreaction. The 17-year-old senior who contracted swine flu was last in school April 23, and the virus has an incubation period of seven to 10 days. So any other possible cases would have emerged before Monday. Still, he decided to close the school to give district officials a buffer, meaning that “in the event anything else manif
Federal labs have confirmed four new H1N1 swine flu cases in Broward County, including the youngest in Florida, along with the first two in Miami-Dade County, state health officials said today. The total number of confirmed cases in the state is now 23, an increase of 18 from a day ago. Officials in Broward and Miami-Dade said all the patients are recovering. No schools or workplaces are expected to be closed as a result of the new cases because the CDC has decided that school closings will not be effective to stop the spread. Instead, health officials are stressing their standard precautions: Keep sick children and adults home, wash hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid sick people and avoid touching mouth, nose and eyes to reduce Sources: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-broward-swine-flu-bn050809,0,3626483.
