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Colorado Schools Prepare Pandemic Response

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Apr 30, 2009 3:29 pm US/Mountain

Colorado Schools Prepare Pandemic Response

Reporting
Jennifer Miller
DENVER (CBS4) ― Denver Public School officials are working on a pandemic plan for the Swine Flu.

This move came after 100 schools nationwide have closed their doors because of the virus.

Texas suspended all High School sports and the entire Fort Worth school district announced it's closing through May 11.

The Colorado Health Department advises schools to send home students with flu-like symptoms, and separate first-aid visits from sicker cases.
 
Denver Public Schools said it has a 100-page plan on it's Web site.

Cherry Creek School District said it's pandemic influenza planning committee drafted it's strategy three years ago, after the Avian Flu scare.
 
That strategy is being revised in light of recent differences with Swine Flu.

Although the Centers for Disease Control recommends closing a school if it has a confirmed case, Cherry Creek will keep it's options open.

"The very best thing is to be flexible, to be able to say that we can make a different decision than the one on the piece of paper if circumstances and the best thinking of health officials is different," said Tustin Amole, Cherry Creek School District public information officer.

Canceling athletic events, sanitizing classrooms and closing schools would be on the table, but parents don't seem to be overly concerned.

"I think that, especially at a high school, there are many other things that are far more concerning and dangerous than the flu," said Patty Bortz, parent of an East High School student in Denver.

Administrators admit their anxiety level is high, even though schools won't know whether it is justified.

If the Swine Flu were to spread across Colorado, most districts anticipate the state, and possibly the federal government, would take over.





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