Worried N.L. parents boost school absenteeism
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 4:05 PM NT
CBC News
Parents are keeping healthy children home because they fear they will contract swine flu in class, top officials at central Newfoundland's school board say.
"We had just over 28 per cent absenteeism [Monday]. One-third of the students were reported being ill and two-thirds of the absentees were not ill," said the director of the Nova Central School District, Cindy Fleet.
Fleet said she's fielding many calls from parents asking whether children should stay home to avoid catching the flu. She said that despite the spread of H1N1 influenza, school is going ahead as usual.
Children with swine flu symptoms are being asked to stay home.
Fleet said she doesn't know when the H1N1 vaccines will be available for school children in the central Newfoundland region.
Health Canada's list of H1N1 influenza symptoms
Almost always:
- Cough and fever
Common:
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Decreased appetite
- Runny nose
Sometimes:
- Nausea
- Vomitting
- Diarrhea
