With two confirmed cases of H1N1 in Harlan County, and the start of the regular flu season, Harlan County Schools will be closing for the remainder of the week due to low attendance.

Harlan County Schools Superintendent Tim Saylor explained that closing this week will cause a tremendous financial loss and that Tuesday’s attendance was the lowest he has seen since he became superintendent.

“Due to the continued excessive absences from several of our schools, the district attendance dropped to 82 percent today (Tuesday),” Saylor said. “This is the lowest I have seen it since I became superintendent. There is no way the district can withstand the financial loss that results from this, thereby costing teaching and staff positions next year. While there undoubtedly are several viruses circulating in the community, there also is great panic being generated by some with the intent of disrupting the educational process of our children. It is imperative that as school employees we do all we can to help parents understand the importance of kids being in school. It is difficult for us to distinguish between the legitimate illnesses and those resulting from the fear of contacting H1N1.”

Saylor said the large number of absenteeism has forced him to close the remainder of the week.

“I am closing all district schools for the remainder of this week — Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. During this time, principals will be overseeing total disinfecting of their schools,” Saylor said.

Dr. Abdulkader Dahhan stated he had seen an increase in patients since the start of the flu season.

“I’ve been seeing between 10 to 15 cases a day of people coming in with flu-like symptoms. People need to realize though the flu (H1N1) is not causing these serious cases, it is the complications that arise from the flu,” explained Dahhan.

He said the cases that have placed people in the hospital are not the actual H1N1 virus but the majority of cases have been due to a development of pneumonia or pre-existing medical conditions that are causing these complications.

Dan Stone, CEO of ARH hospitals, explained that there has been an increase of people coming into the emergency room with flu-like symptoms.

“People who come in and test positive for influenza A are being treated as possible H1N1 cases,” said Stone, “Bringing people who might not have H1N1 in contact with sick people who possibly could have it will only add to the problem.”

Harlan Independent Supervisor of Instruction Dr. James S. Greene explained that Monday’s attendance was in the high 90 percentile.

“At this time we have no reason or cause to close due to illness,” Greene said.

Greene did say they would monitor and keep track of attendance to keep children safe.

Dr. Rachel Eubank of the Clover Fork Clinic in Evarts explained they have noticed an increase of people visiting them with flu-like symptoms.

“We are seeing a marked increase of people with a flu-like syndrome,” said Eubank. “These are a number of children more than adults. If you are sick, you should stay home. You can treat a fever or running nose and cough with over the counter medication and just call your doctor.”

Kathy Fields, Director of the Cumberland Valley District Health Department, explained there has been two confirmed cases of H1N1 reported in Harlan county.

“You don’t test for H1N1 directly unless you fit into certain risk categories. Instead, doctors are testing for influenza A or B. If someone tests positive for influenza A or B then they are saying it is H1N1,” said Fields.

Currently it can take nearly two weeks before results can be verified and then reported. Dahhan said he uses a nasal swab test on patients who exhibit flu-like symptoms. Dahhan said he has confirmed and treated two to three cases at his office.

The nasal swab test is a fast reporting test that can verify if an individual has the influenza A. Harlan ARH uses a different test known as the Rapid Test to check for influenza A. Since both are fast response tests, they can vary in accuracy.

“If they have the flu or H1N1, I treat it with an anti-viral pill or liquid called Tama Flu. The pill is more designed for adults and the liquid is used to treat children,” Dahhan said.

The Harlan County School system is the latest to close it doors due to the possibility of illness. Saylor explained in his release how closing not only affects the children, teachers and other employees but it causes other problems for the rest of the school year.

“It is with caution that I note that there is no fall break to utilize as make up days. The days we miss will have to be made up in the spring or at the end of the school year,” Saylor said. “Again, I want to emphasize that I do not want to cancel classes. Our Commissioner of Public Health has noted that there will be an increased number of cases of flu for at least the next six months. Therefore, I want to once again caution you to continue to practice good hygiene personally and with your students. You need to have a class plan and a school plan for increased handwashing and hot spot sanitizing when we resume classes on Monday,” said Saylor.

All of the various health agencies have agreed that pregnant women, hospitalized patients and institutionalized patients are at a higher risk and should seek testing if they exhibit any type of flu symptoms.

Since inmates at the jail are kept in close contact with one another, an extra watchful eye is being kept on their health. Harlan County Detention Center LPN, Geona Snellings reported if something did arise it would be handled in a joint effort with the Clover Fork Clinic.

“We have not had any documented cases of H1N1 at the Harlan County Detention Center,” said Snellings.

The Harlan Circuit Court Clerk’s office see a high traffic of the public daily. Clerk, Paul Williams said all of his staff have hand sanitizing gel available to them.

Symptoms for H1N1 are the same as regular flu symptoms and people should not seek medical attention unless they show certain extreme symptoms.

H1N1 is a new strain of what is the regular influenza virus. Common sense steps can be taken to help stop the spread and help aid in the prevention of this virus.

Many local businesses are also putting extra effort in keeping employees and the public healthy.

Teresa Haynes, office manager at Don’s SuperSaver, discussed ways they are working to keep the public well.

“We always supply cart wipes for the public. We furnish each cashier with hand sanitizer gel at their registers. We are disinfecting restrooms and doing extra cleaning throughout the store with disinfectant. We are taking every precaution to control the spreading of germs,” Haynes explained.

Richard Lankford, shift manager for RAX restaurant, explained how through proper and thorough sanitation they hope to cut down on possible contact with the virus.

“All our employees wash their hands frequently and use gloves. They have hand sanitizer gel available to them. We are sanitizing throughout the store, such as doors, tables, chairs, employee and public restrooms. Hand sanitizer gel is available for our customers at the register,” Lankford said.

“All our employees are given access to hand sanitizing gel. We are making available to the public anti-bacterial wipes. We are also posting throughout the store the Center for Disease Control guidelines in flu prevention,” explained Paul Meister, Manager of the Harlan Wal-Mart.

“Parents should remember when your children are out of school, the children should stay at home and not visit with their friends,” Eubank said.

By taking simple preventative steps you can keep yourself and loved ones from getting sick during this flu season.