Flu arrives early with suspected cases in two of three schools

BERRYVILLE -- The flu season has arrived early, striking a blow in late August and early September instead of its usual mid-October arrival.

There are at least six confirmed cases of influenza A reported at Green Forest High School, school officials say.

At Berryville High, nearly two dozen students were sent home with flu-like symptoms the first of the week.

It's a far different story in Eureka Springs, where the district's school nurse said, "there's nothing yet."

Its untimely arrival has some health professionals thinking it could be the novel H1N1 flu -- for which a vaccine is not yet available.

H1N1 was initially referred to as the swine flu because lab testing showed it shared genes similar to those in swine.

However, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), further study determined that this new virus has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in European and Asian pigs, and bird genes and human genes.

The CDC says scientists refer to it as a "quadruple reassortant."

Whatever its name or origin, health professionals are taking it seriously and encouraging preventative measures.

Sherri Plumlee, administrator of the Carroll County Health Unit, said she and Jason Morris, with the Carroll County Office of Emergency Management, have already met with the medical board at St. John's Hospital -- Berryville "to make sure we're all on the same page."

She said the number of flu cases reported have been higher than usual during a time that is not the usual flu season, which runs October through March, with January and February usually being the worst months.

"A large number in August is just not typical," she said.

According to Plumlee, there are confirmed cases of Type A influenza here in the county, and the H1N1 flu is a "sub-type A."

"Once you have one case, it's here. You've got it," she said. "This is not our typical time for the seasonal flu."

Mass immunizations are scheduled to vaccinate against the seasonal flu, she said, but those aren't planned to start until mid-October.

"The state typically does not immunize for the seasonal flu until mid-October for the October through March flu season," she said. "It takes two weeks to build immunity and by giving it in mid-October, you provide immunity longer into the flu season -- rather than giving it now."

She said a vaccine for the H1N1 virus is still in clinical trials, and it is recommended, at this point, that it be administered in two separate does, a minimum of one month apart.

If the H1N1 vaccine is available when mass immunization clinics are scheduled for the "seasonal" flu, it will be administered at the same time, she said, although no one knows yet what the cost will be or how the CDC will distribute it.

Because seasonal flu vaccines are available, a community mass dispensing clinic is scheduled along with school clinics.

"I have met with all three school superintendents," said Plumlee. "All are on board and have their nurses working on plans."

Those clinics are scheduled as follows:

* Oct. 19-20 at Eureka Springs Schools;

* Oct. 26-27 at Green Forest Schools; and,

* Nov. 16-17 at Berryville Schools.

The community clinic will be a mass dispensing drive-through on Friday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., at the Assembly of God Church in Berryville, the same location as last year when nearly 1,900 people were immunized.

Plumlee said Gov. Mike Beebe authorized funds to cover the cost of immunizations for all school age children. The mass dispensing for adults is an annual effort supported by the state health department.

There, Plumlee said, a team of nurses and community volunteers come together to work the drive-through, where patients are given their shots while seated in their vehicles.

At the schools, she said, the clinics will likely last about four hours each. All students in kindergarten through 12th grade who have signed permission slips will receive the shots.

The health department will bring the supplies, vaccines and licensed nurses who have ample experience vaccinating children.

"It will be much like our mass clinic," Plumlee said. "We will need volunteer nurses and what I call 'huggers and holders.' Some parents will be able to be there with their children, and others won't because they work. We don't expect small children to sit alone through this. That's where the 'huggers and holders' come in."

Plumlee said the number of students immunized will be determined by the number of permission slips that are signed and returned.

In the meantime, Plumlee recommends everyone follow the established guidelines: wash hands often with warm water and soap; use disinfectants and hand wipes; use disposable tissues; cough into your sleeve rather than hand; and stay home when sick and away from others until you are fever-free and med-free for 24 hours.

People who want more information, Plumlee said, should visit the following Web sites: CDC.gov, flu.gov or Healthyarkansas.com.