“So far, so good – we’re just trying to get back to normal,” said Zevelyn Manolatos, Assistant Principal of P.S. 177 in Fresh Meadows as the children resumed classes on Wednesday, May 6.
With five confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, referred to as the “swine flu,” P.S. 177, which serves children with autism, was closed for five school days.
During that time, the building underwent a thorough cleaning, according to Manolatos.
Now, she said, “Everyone is relieved and happy to be back. This [the closure] really threw off the students, who are used to a routine. Everyone is just more conscious in terms of hygiene.”
Meanwhile, it was business as usual for the students of Saint Francis Preparatory on the third day of classes.
After reopening on Monday, May 4 – with 200 students of 2,700 still absent – the number decreased to 139 on Tuesday, May 5, “about typical attendance for any given day,” according to Assistant Principal Carolyn Szostek.
Concerts and after-school activities also resumed, and, to make up for time lost, the school year has been extended.
Senior classes will now end May 28, with senior finals finishing up by June 4. All other students will end the year on June 15.
Prep had been closed for a week after 69 students had confirmed cases of the swine flu.
Prior to reopening, the school’s cleaning crew, Harvard Maintenance, disinfected every surface. Prep paid for the costs.
Szostek told The Queens Courier that Harvard Maintenance had handled other cleanups, including one after a fire a few years ago.
With a sign that read, “No absent passes – go right to class,” hundreds of students filed through the doors before the first bell.
“I’m delighted to see smiling faces walk into this building,” said Brother Leonard Conway, Principal, with a smile.
“I’m satisfied with the way the school handled it,” he continued. “I think our staff is tremendous. We kept the parents updated on our web site all of the time, and all phone calls and all emails were answered in a timely fashion, within 24 hours.”
“I was impressed with the New York City Department of Health [and Mental Hygiene] on Monday [April 27],” said Alan Binder, father of ninth grader Sami, who had swine flu. “We got four separate phone calls – two to speak with Sami and two doctors in the evening called me. I was really impressed with the response.”
But freshman Justine Licato, whose dad was picking her up after class on the first day back, said she was not feeling well.
“I was fine the whole week [the school was shuttered],” she said. “Now I’m sick.”
Most who went back, though, said everything was the same as always.
“It was good today,” said a cafeteria worker. She told The Courier she did not get sick, and was happy to be back.
“It wasn’t worth all the homework,” said sophomores Robin Ambooken and Justin Lachman, noting that, although the school was closed, students were still expected to complete assignments due the day they returned for their classes.
Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), said the department is now collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to further assess the St. Francis outbreak.
Besides surveying affected households, the two agencies will collect and analyze blood samples from a small subset of households, to determine the actual rate of infection.
Both health officials and Brother Conway are urging students with fever and a cough or sore throat to stay home until they have recovered and been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
In addition, they are urging every student, staff and faculty member to complete a follow-up swine flu survey whether or not they completed the first one.
As of Wednesday, May 6, the CDC confirmed 97 cases of H1N1 in New York, with 642 nationwide.
The first death of a U.S. resident from swine flu was also confirmed – a Texas woman who reportedly had other chronic health problems. Last week, a 23-month-old boy from Mexico died.
The new tally also includes two confirmed cases and one probable case, all in adults, who are not associated with places where spread of the virus has been established.
Health officials say this is further evidence that the H1N1 is not confined to a particular group but is spreading more widely, as human flu viruses generally do.
So far, the CDC says it has completed deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental U.S.
“These supplies and medicines will help states and U.S. territories respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus,” read a statement on cdc.gov.
A spokesperson said that it would be months before one would be available, however.
The DOHMH has said that, although H1N1 is likely spreading, it does not appear to have caused more severe illness than seasonal flu.
But seasonal flu can be serious, especially among infants, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions, they warn.
“Any kind of flu can be serious, especially for infants, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions,” Dr. Frieden said. “That’s why covering coughs and sneezes, hand-washing, and staying home when you’re sick are so important.”
At present, only the Health Department’s Public Health Laboratory can determine if a case is probable, and only CDC can confirm it. Eating pork or pork products cannot spread H1N1 flu. The most effective way to lower the risk is for people with fever and either cough or sore throat to stay home, noted Frieden.
– With additional reporting by Noah Rosenberg
