Rumors of flu 'running rampant' unfounded

By Pennie Embry, Staff Writer

STIGLER, Sept. 17 — Are flu-related absences in Stigler schools significantly on the rise? If you listen to rumors, then you might think the answer is yes.

But those rumors are not true, said Bill Self, superintendent of Stigler Public Schools.

While it is true that on Aug. 31, 43 students were reported absent from Stigler Grade School, “You can’t tie that to the flu,” Self said. “It could be seasonal hay fever more than anything else.”

He went on to explain that when it comes to students missing school, people need to think in terms of percentages, not numbers.

“On any typical school day, we’re going to have about a 5 percent absentee rate,” Self said. “That’s going to mean 30 or more children out in the grade school alone. So though it was a bit high that day, overall, our absences have been running about normal.”

While in recent weeks area doctors have confirmed that some local children do have influenza, there is no indication that there is a flu outbreak –– whether the H1N1 virus or seasonal Type A –– in Haskell County, Self added.

Teresa Huggins, chief executive officer of the Stigler Health and Wellness Center, said reports of patients recently seen at the center back up Self’s observations.

“Our three doctors typically see about 60 patients a day,” Huggins said, “Which means we see as many as 300 patients in one week.”

During the 10-day period running from Aug. 31–Sept. 9, Health and Wellness Center doctors saw almost 500 patients, Huggins said, and less than 100 of those presented flu-like symptoms. Out of those, the clinic’s doctors confirmed 12 cases of flu.

“Although we have had some confirmed positive flu cases, many patients are presenting with similar allergy symptoms, mistakenly thinking they may have the flu,” Huggins said. “Typical flu symptoms include dry cough, high fever and severe muscle aches, particularly the back and head. The patient often has poor appetite and low energy.”

Although Huggins and other local health officials want the public not to panic, they’re not dismissing flu concerns, especially in the light of a Center for Disease Control and Prevention report dated Sept. 5 that listed Oklahoma as one of 11 states where flu activity was rated as widespread.

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