Swine flu scare in Claremont

A student at OLA School in Claremont may have contracted the deadly swine flu virus after a recent trip to Mexico City. The 1st grader and her mother were there last week on vacation.

Over the weekend, the student and her mother fell ill with flu-like symptoms. They've been tested for swine flu but the results won't be in until tomorrow.

From Wednesday to Friday, the student attended classes with other students at OLA. School officials became aware of the health scare Sunday evening. Students are being let out of school early today and classes will be closed tomorrow for cleaning of classrooms and common areas.

Below is a news release from the Los Angeles Archdiocese, which oversees the school. See Wednesday's edition of the COURIER for more coverage.


STATEMENT ON HEALTH PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN AT
OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL IN CLAREMONT

This past weekend, a student at Our Lady of the Assumption School
in Claremont fell ill with flu-like symptoms four days after
returning from a visit to Mexico with her mother. The mother is
also reportedly suffering from flu-like symptoms. The student and
mother have been tested for the swine flu virus, but the results of
the testing are not yet available.

School officials learned of the student’s illness late Sunday
night, and this morning called both the San Bernardino Health
Department (where the student’s family resides), as well as the Los
Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advised the
Archdiocese to keep the school open, and to observe precautionary
measures (hand washing, covering mouths when coughing or sneezing,
etc.) to avoid potential contamination.

In addition to these measures, school officials are advising
parents that they may take their children home from school early
today. School officials are advising all parents to monitor their
children’s health and to report any illnesses to health officials
immediately.

The Archdiocese has decided that there will be no classes at Our
Lady of the Assumption School tomorrow (Tuesday). Parents will be
contacted regarding the resumption of classes, pending the outcome
of the ill student’s test results and further recommendations from
the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The school maintenance staff is in the process of cleaning the
school’s communal areas, including the school auditorium, the
affected student’s classroom and the rest rooms.

School and Archdiocesan officials will continue to monitor
developments and report further information when it is available.