Homecoming postponed, middle school socials canceled: H1N1 cases jump from 5 to 21 in one week

Written by Rachel Kirkpatrick
Thursday, 29 October 2009 11:13

NEWS ALERT | Friday, 12:15 p.m.

School officials have postponed Joel Barlow High School’s Homecoming Dance over concerns of confirmed H1N1 flu cases which have more than quadrupled in one week. Socials planned at John Read Middle School have been canceled.

In a Listserv e-mail sent to parents, Dr. Allen Fossbender, superintendent of schools, said he learned that in some school districts where these events were hosted, “there were subsequent increases in flu-like illnesses among students shortly thereafter; in two districts the increases were precipitous.”

The Homecoming Dance was set for Friday night. A sixth grade social at John Read Middle School was scheduled for 3:30 on Friday.

Dr. Fossbender said he solicited the medical opinions of Dr. Lawrence Leibowitz, Redding’s health director, and Dr. Christopher Michos, Easton’s health director.

“They believe that the decision to postpone the dance and to cancel the socials is correct, citing the increased prevalence of flu-like illnesses in our area; the nature of the dance and the socials where students would be in closer contact in some cases than at other school-based activities; the high transmissibility of H1N1; and the unprecedented, serious threat that H1N1 represents to children and adolescents,” Dr. Fossbender said in the e-mail.

The decision to postpone and cancel these events, he said, “does not establish precedent for upcoming events and activities.”

“I will make future decisions based on the facts as they are known at the time of the decision making and based on continual consultation with Dr. Leibowitz and Dr. Michos,” Dr. Fossbender said. “I will also extend every effort to make future decisions in the timeliest manner possible.”

School officials plan to send updates on this issue weekly. (See related story)