Merkel ISD Shuts Down

Merkel ISD will be closed until May 11 after six children there tested for "probable "probable" cases of the H1N1 (swine) flu. The cases have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control for confirmation. A timeline for when those results will come back is not yet known.

Of the 15 samples sent from Taylor County for further testing, all probable six cases came from students in Merkel, ages 4 to 11.

The announcement came Friday evening in a press conference from Abilene City Hall carried live on bigcountryhomepage.com.

Each of the infected children has recovered from the flu. The first of the patient's symptoms began on April 23 and the samples were submitted for further testing on April 28.

Superintendent Bill Hood told bigcountryhomepage.com that the district is following recommendations to cancel classes through Friday, May 8.

"Our recommendation would be Merkel schools do close," Dr. Zane Travis with the Taylor County Health Department said during the press conference. "That would not apply to Abilene schools right now."

According to Dr. Travis, at least one of the Merkel students had recently been to Laredo, Texas, which is located in the border of Mexico.

Taylor County health officials warn people to be cautious, while also warning of unnecessary panic.

"We are not at all panicked because these have all been mild cases," Dr. Travis said. "The doctors (of the infected children) have been right on the ball and prescribed the medication which has been effective. All are well; all received Tamiflu which has been effective."

Because the samples have not been confirmed by the CDC as H1N1, the six cases will not yet show up among national statistics.

People should continue washing their hands and avoiding crowded, indoor gatherings, Dr. Travis said.

But don't go too far.

"My grandson is playing baseball in little league tomorrow and I plan to be there," he said.

[bigbrother]

Good post. Did you see the one I posted in the other section?