Probable swine flu closes Rogers Park school

Tribune:

A probable case of swine flu has prompted the closing of a North Side elementary school for at least two days.

The case involves a student at Kilmer Elementary School, 6700 N. Greenview Ave. in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman said at a morning press conference at the school.

Chicago Public Health Commissioner Terry Mason said the student "is recovered at home." Ald. Joe Moore (49th) said the student is 12.

Huberman said tests on the student have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and he expects results back in 24 to 36 hours.

The decision to close the school was made Tuesday after the state reported the probable case to CPS and the system noticed an unusually high absentee rate at the school, Huberman said.

Attendance at the school is normally 94 to 96 percent, but it was 87 percent on Tuesday, Huberman said. That was "clearly enough of a differential" to warrant the closing. He said the school would be closed "indefinitely," but at least for two days.

Just to let you know how serious this disease is there has been a reported confirmed death from swine flu in the nation:

A two-year-old child in Texas has become the first fatality from swine flu in the United States, officials said Wednesday.

"A child has died from the H1N1 virus," the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control Dr. Richard Besser told CNN's "American Morning" on Wednesday. "As a parent and a pediatrician, my heart goes out to the family."

There's probably more information on the precautions taken by city, county and state authorities on this potential outbreak. I'll refer you to Monday's post and perhaps post new information in this post during the day.

The Broken Heart of Roger's Park is keeping an eye on the situation at the school in Roger's Park.