WTHR |Flu, other illnesses continue to hit schools hard
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Tamiflu is in short supply.Indianapolis - Flu activity remains high in central Indiana and more schools are seeing flu outbreaks.
Lapel Middle School and Slocum elementary in Marion both reported absentee rates of at least 20 percent Monday. Last week, absenteeism rates at Fall Creek Intermediate School in Fishers hit 30 percent, while school districts reported 15- to 20-percent rates.
The number of students sick and absent from the IPS Center for Inquiry doubled over the weekend. About a fourth of them weren't at their desks. The assistant principal called it a rough Monday.
"We've had quite a few out sick. We've had quite a few more that we've had to call home about because of symptoms," said Joe Turner, assistant principal.
The Raphael Health Center is treating more flu victims. Doctors sent a two-year-old, who was also suffering from asthma, to a hospital emergency room.
"Very significant breathing problems and mom had been giving nebulizers overnight and they weren't helping," said Dr. Louis Winterheimer, Raphael Health Center.
Dr. Winterheimer explains children with asthma are at higher risk of developing severe cases of H1N1. The clinic is sparingly prescribing Tamiflu. The anti-viral medicine is only effective if taken in the early signs of symptoms and it is becoming scarce.
"There is quite a shortage right now of Tamiflu as well," said Dr. Winterheimer.
Health officials say large quantities of the H1N1 vaccine can't arrive soon enough. The Marion County Health Department expects only 2,500 doses this week. The nasal spray will again be given to hospital emergency and critical care workers.
With more children becoming sick, public concern appears to be growing. Carmella Rivers, a high school student, left school coughing and sneezing.
"A lot of people were like, you should get tested for H1N1. I was like, I don't have H1N1. I have a cold," she said.
The Marion County Health Department doesn't know yet when it will receive what a spokesperson calls "a mother load' of injectable H1N1 vaccine - enough to open mass clinics providing inoculations to thousands of people. However, the department has a good supply of seasonal flu vaccine. They will hold a flu shot clinic at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Tuesday.
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