Flu outbreak targeting the young

Children and young adults continue to bear the brunt of the H1N1 flu, as the virus makes its way across the region and the rest of the nation.

Wauneta-Palisade schools have closed for the rest of the week due to the high number of absentees, with the school already scheduled to be closed on Friday for a teacher in-service day.

Mass immunization clinics have been planned for the area, said Myra Stoney of the Southwest Public Health Department, targeting at-risk groups such as those six months or older through 24 years old, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.

Older citizens have not been impacted much by H1N1, Stoney said, because their immunity has built up over time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at the weekly H1N1 briefings Oct. 20, said that young people continue to be hit especially hard by the 2009 H1N1 virus. More than half of the hospitalizations from 2009 H1N1 flu reported by 27 states from Sept. 1 and Oct. 10 were people age 24 and younger.

Absentee rates at area schools vary, with rates at 10 percent or higher closely monitored by school officials and the public health department. Absentee rate percentages from area schools, that includes absences for other reasons, such as personal days or other illnesses, include: McCook, as of Tuesday: McCook Elementary -- 13.1 percent; Central Elementary -- 14.9 percent; Junior High -- 12.5 percent; Senior High -- 15.4 percent; St Pats, as of Oct. 14: 6 percent; Southwest, as of Oct.14: Junior-Senior High-10.56 percent; Elementary- 2.7 percent; Hitchcock County, as of Oct. 14: Culbertson and junior high, no absences; Senior High, 6 percent.

One of the main symptoms of H1H1 is the presence of a fever, Stoney said, and taking medicine but continuing with daily activities spreads the the illness.

"If you have a fever, stay home," she said. "You're contagious when you have a fever and going to work or to Walmart just keeps the virus cycling."

According to Nebraska Health and Human Services, for the week ending Oct. 10, Southwest Nebraska had a total of 20.48 percent testing positive for the flu.The Panhandle region had 22 percent, North Central, 4.35 percent, Northeast, 17.43 percent, Southeast, 25 percent, Douglas, 18.60 percent and Lancaster, 23.34 percent.