Byline: Bill Novak
A Fort Atkinson elementary school shut down Monday and Tuesday because of a probable case of swine flu will reopen Wednesday.
The Jefferson County Department of Health told the school district that Barrie Elementary School could reopen on Wednesday, after originally determining the school should stayed shuttered all week.
'Based on a more recent assessment of the Fort Atkinson community for any influenza-like illness, it was determined that it would be safe for students and staff to return to school much sooner than originally anticipated,' the school district said in an update letter posted on its website Monday night.
One area school, Milton High School, will remain closed on Tuesday by order of the Rock County Health Department, after one student was identified as a probable case of swine flu.
The high school could remain closed longer, but the sick student has stayed home since last week, reducing the chances for other students or staff to get the disease.
The school building was posted as closed on Monday, with no staff or students allowed inside.
The school district sent letters to parents on Monday, advising children and adults to stay away from other people and groups as much as possible, and not to gather in public places such as shopping malls, movie theaters or community centers.
The number of probable swine flu cases in Wisconsin increased to 105 on Monday, but only three of those cases have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in Adams County and two in Milwaukee County.
Milwaukee has 48 probable cases of swine flu pending testing results from the CDC, with five cases in Waukesha County, three in Racine County, two each in Rock and Sheboygan Counties and one each in Jefferson, Kenosha, Ozaukee and Polk Counties. Thirty-eight probable cases still have their county identifications pending.
Milwaukee city officials have closed 22 schools and one child care facility because of concerns about the spread of the flu.
Added to the list Monday was Alexander Hamilton High School, the largest high school in Milwaukee Public Schools with an enrollment of 1,995.
In Racine County, Kansasville Elementary School will be closed for at least a week after tests indicated a student there has a probable case of swine flu.
Jennifer Johnson of the Western Racine County Health Department said the school's staff and about 100 students are to stay on their own properties, although not necessarily in the house, until at least May 12 as a precaution.
She said health officials decided Monday on the closure after the state Laboratory of Hygiene classified it as a probable case of the swine flu, or H1N1. It is one of three probable cases in Racine County. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not confirmed any of them.
Johnson said the Kansasville student had mild symptoms like high fever, cough, sore throat and body aches, and he was not hospitalized. He had missed classes part of last week.
In northern Wisconsin, officials said the Lac du Flambeau School, Headstart, and Pre-K programs are closing Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
The Vilas County Health Department said two individuals are suspected of having swine flu.
One previous probable case in Wisconsin attributed to Winnebago County was actually from Winnebago County, Illinois.
The CDC said swine flu is now being reported in 36 states, with a total of 286 laboratory-confirmed cases. Only one death has been attributed to swine flu in the U.S., that of a 22-month-old Mexican child in Texas.
The state Division of Public Health issues daily updates on the swine flu situation and has set up an emergency operations center.
The center has a 211 hotline people can call to find out more about swine flu, with staff taking calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
So far, the call center received 105 calls on Friday, 160 calls on Saturday and 130 calls on Sunday.
More information is available online at http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bill Novak - 5/05/2009 6:38 am
