MONTICELLO - School District Administrator Karen Ballin learned Wednesday night that a student in the Monticello elementary school had contracted Green County's first confirmed case of H1N1 influenza, or swine flu.
There are four other cases in Green County being tested, Green County Health Director RoAnn Warden said Thursday.
The Monticello school is not being closed, however a school assembly scheduled for Thursday afternoon was canceled as a preventative measure. Students were being asked to wash their hands upon entering and exiting classrooms.
Heather Emberson lives across from the Monticello School and has four children in the school system, two in high school, one in the third grade and one in 4K.
At noon Thursday, Emberson said she had not heard about the case in the school yet.
"I knew it was in Dane County and other places," she said.
Whether she keeps her children home from school, depends on which grade the influenza case was found.
"It depends on if my children will have or had contact," she said.
Regardless of which classroom the case was discovered in, Emberson said she will be watching her children closely for symptoms.
"My understanding is that they are normal flu symptoms," she said.
Ballin said the Department of Instruction is following the Center for Disease Control's recommendation of not closing schools. Until earlier this week, the CDC had been recommending that schools close with the first confirmed case of H1N1.
Ballin met Thursday morning with Warden, along with representatives from Monroe Clinic, Green County Emergency Management and others, to discuss drafting public statements.
Ballin was sending an e-mail to all parents in the school district at noon Thursday, and Warden was preparing a statement for the community at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Information also was posted on the school's Web site.
Parents of students who have been absent will be contacted to find out if they have any flu symptoms, she said.
Ballin hopes parents will not succumb to fear of the virus and keep their children home from school.
"We are here to educate these children. I don't think there is need to panic or fear in any way," she said.
The school will remain open as long as there is enough staff to cover the classes.
Monroe city officials are aware of the possibility of swine flu in the area. City health officer John Frantz sent a letter to Mayor Ron Marsh outlining his thoughts on the nearby cases of swine flu.
"I thoroughly agree with the State and local Department of Health that the current 'swine flu' is not cause for panic. It is true that it is a new strain and that available flu shots do not protect against it. However, it is producing a rather mild illness with almost no mortality in healthy young adults," Frantz's letter stated.
Monticello schools are following strict hygiene procedures, Ballin said.
"We have made Purell hand sanitizer and wipes available in all classrooms, and we are being aware of wiping down surfaces, telephones, keyboards," she said.
Ballin met with staff after school Thursday to discuss the symptoms.
"We are in the loop of knowing the practice - students with flu-like symptoms will be isolated and parents called to pick them up," she said.
While Thursday's afternoon assembly was canceled, Ballin said it is unlikely any other spring events will have to be canceled or rescheduled. She said in a letter to parents that the district will be in close contact with public health officials to monitor any risk.
"Our first concern is safety," Ballin said.
There are four other cases in Green County being tested, Green County Health Director RoAnn Warden said Thursday.
The Monticello school is not being closed, however a school assembly scheduled for Thursday afternoon was canceled as a preventative measure. Students were being asked to wash their hands upon entering and exiting classrooms.
Heather Emberson lives across from the Monticello School and has four children in the school system, two in high school, one in the third grade and one in 4K.
At noon Thursday, Emberson said she had not heard about the case in the school yet.
"I knew it was in Dane County and other places," she said.
Whether she keeps her children home from school, depends on which grade the influenza case was found.
"It depends on if my children will have or had contact," she said.
Regardless of which classroom the case was discovered in, Emberson said she will be watching her children closely for symptoms.
"My understanding is that they are normal flu symptoms," she said.
Ballin said the Department of Instruction is following the Center for Disease Control's recommendation of not closing schools. Until earlier this week, the CDC had been recommending that schools close with the first confirmed case of H1N1.
Ballin met Thursday morning with Warden, along with representatives from Monroe Clinic, Green County Emergency Management and others, to discuss drafting public statements.
Ballin was sending an e-mail to all parents in the school district at noon Thursday, and Warden was preparing a statement for the community at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Information also was posted on the school's Web site.
Parents of students who have been absent will be contacted to find out if they have any flu symptoms, she said.
Ballin hopes parents will not succumb to fear of the virus and keep their children home from school.
"We are here to educate these children. I don't think there is need to panic or fear in any way," she said.
The school will remain open as long as there is enough staff to cover the classes.
Monroe city officials are aware of the possibility of swine flu in the area. City health officer John Frantz sent a letter to Mayor Ron Marsh outlining his thoughts on the nearby cases of swine flu.
"I thoroughly agree with the State and local Department of Health that the current 'swine flu' is not cause for panic. It is true that it is a new strain and that available flu shots do not protect against it. However, it is producing a rather mild illness with almost no mortality in healthy young adults," Frantz's letter stated.
Monticello schools are following strict hygiene procedures, Ballin said.
"We have made Purell hand sanitizer and wipes available in all classrooms, and we are being aware of wiping down surfaces, telephones, keyboards," she said.
Ballin met with staff after school Thursday to discuss the symptoms.
"We are in the loop of knowing the practice - students with flu-like symptoms will be isolated and parents called to pick them up," she said.
While Thursday's afternoon assembly was canceled, Ballin said it is unlikely any other spring events will have to be canceled or rescheduled. She said in a letter to parents that the district will be in close contact with public health officials to monitor any risk.
"Our first concern is safety," Ballin said.