After six students at the Ascension School on West 108th Street were suspected of having swine flu, city health officials tested four children and a teacher at the school on Wednesday, and took samples from another two students who were sick at home. Though the results have not yet been processed, there are no confirmed cases of the illness at Ascension.
Linda Moskin, supervising physician of the Office of School Health at the city’s Department of Health, visited Ascension and the student homes with her staff. The collected samples are being processed in New York City labs and results will then be “evaluated and next steps determined,” according to a statement by Joseph Zwilling of the Archdiocese of New York, which oversees Ascension.
The statement continues, “Ascension School remains open and is considered a safe environment for students and teachers. Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the public schools are following the same New York City Health Department protocols regarding school closures due to swine flu. Schools will be closed when there is a confirmed case of swine flu and a cluster of related cases in the same location.”
The Archdiocesan Department of Education has been in contact with the Health Department, collaboratively monitoring the situation. The DOH reported that “No additional student became ill at this school today, and testing results should be ready late tomorrow,” in a press release sent on Wednesday evening. By that time, the department had counted 49 cases of swine flu in New York City as well as five more pending confirmation.
“The agency will continue to investigate possible clusters and monitor closely for signs of severe illness,” Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, city health commissioner, said in the release. “The Health Department continues to work closely with the Department of Education and non-public schools to identify any apparent clusters in schools. When appropriate, we will recommend closure of schools to reduce transmission.”
Ascension, located at 220 W. 108th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, is a private school with 278 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. A full-time on-site nurse treats any child who becomes sick at school. All students and teachers with symptoms have received medical treatment and will remain home until they have recovered, according to Zwilling.
His statement added that, “Ascension school and all other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese will continue to closely follow Health Department guidelines. Principals and pastors have been sent updated information on the appropriate procedures they should follow in the event that they suspect a case of flu in their school.”
Though rare in humans, swine flu symptoms appear to be those of seasonal allergies or flu. People with the respiratory infection have experienced fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue, and in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting. (See http://www.columbia.edu/cu/studentservices/preparedness/ for more information on swine flu prevention.)
The illness originally broke out in Mexico, and first appeared in New York at the St. Francis Preparatory Academy in Fresh Meadows, Queens. Teachers College sent a message to the school’s students on Tuesday reporting that a student “was diagnosed this past Sunday with Type A Influenza, which has been linked to swine flu. We have been and will continue to be in touch with the student.” No further information about that student’s health has been reported.
Barnard’s and Columbia’s Health Services sent out school-wide e-mails on Wednesday, outlining symptoms and suggesting health tips to avoid infection. Columbia posted similar information on the University’s Web site. Precautionary measures include frequent washing of hands and face, use of tissues to contain sneezing, avoiding contact with things that are often touched, such as doorknobs, getting the influenza vaccine annually, and, avoiding contact with those who are ill.
Betsy Morais can be reached at betsy.morais@columbiaspectator.com
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