Second School Shut Down Amid Flu Concerns

Middletown's Keigwin School Closed Remainder of Week

By AMANDA RAUS

Updated 11:45 PM EDT, Mon, Oct 26, 2009

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When 145 students, or 40 percent school population, at Keigwin Middle School called out sick, the Middletown School District decided the best course of action was to shut down the school for the rest of the week.

"I think it's safe to assume that more than a few of these students who are out today are probably suffering the effects of H1N1, which means it has the potential to spread," said Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano.

The district canceled all classes and activities at the school and will be cleaning the building over the next few days. It says the spike in sick students came on suddenly and may be linked to a school dance held Friday. Guilford High School had a similar situation after a dance held there.

"I think the thing about this virus is it seems to be much more transmissible than the ordinary seasonal flu as you can see by going from 20 students to 145 students out in just a few days," said Dr. Joseph Havlicek, who is Middletown's Health Director.

The rapid rise in possible swine flu cases has some parents worried about the health of their children. Those with children between the ages of two and four came to get their children vaccinated at a swine flu clinic in East Haddam. It was put on by the Chatham Health District.

"I just feel with all the scary news you've heard about how it's affecting kids, and we don't know where it's going. Weighing the two options, I did do some research, I though the positives outweighed the negatives," said Kim Lemcke of East Haddam.

They also wish their school-aged children could get the vaccine, too.

"I will be happy when he can be vaccinated for certain since he's already been ill, and there's been lots of stuff going around already," said Lemcke.

Other school districts have reported an increase in student absences. Avon, Glastonbury and Region 10 schools are all monitoring the situation closely to see if they need to close any schools.