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| 10/27/2009 8:45:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| The North Lakeland School will be void of students through Sunday, Nov. 1. School set to reopen Monday, Nov. 2. |
| | Flu impact on other events | Due to the announced cancellation of school for the week of October 27th to the 30th in the Lac du Flambeau School District and in other school districts in the Northwood's area, as well as the cancellation of all after school extracurricular activities, the management at Lake of the Torches Resort Casino felt it would be prudent and appropriate to also cancel the Family Halloween Party scheduled for this Friday, the 30th of October.
Casino officials are in communication with local school officials in order to coordinate with them and to participate in any re-scheduled Halloween festivities that they decide to implement.
The Lake of the Torches Resort Casino's Adult Halloween "Spooktacular" Party with the Vic Ferrari Band scheduled for Saturday, Oct, 31, 9 p.m., will still take place in the casino's Hall of Nations convention center as scheduled. We look forward to a very successful and enjoyable event where all of the proceeds from the $5 ticket for entry will go to the Lakeland Food Pantry.
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Suspected H1N1 pandemic forces closure of LdF, North Lakeland through Nov. 1
Fast-rising rates of student and staff absenteeism spurs Vilas Public Health school closure orders
In the wake of President Barack Obama's Saturday, Oct. 24 declaration of a national H1N1 swine flu national emergency, fast-rising rates of student and staff absenteeism with flu-like illnesses, including likely pandemic levels of swine flu infection, spurred Vilas County public health officer Gina Egan's Monday, Oct. 26 issuance of six-day school closure orders for two Lakeland area 4K-8 school districts - Lac du Flambeau Public School and Manitowish Waters-based North Lakeland School, which serves Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and Winchester, as well as a small western portion of Land O' Lakes.
The closures were made pursuant to the authority granted Egan as a county public health officer under Section 252.02(3) of the Wisconsin Statutes to close schools and forbid public gatherings in schools, churches and other places to control outbreaks and epidemics. Monday's school closure decisions were made in consultation with the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) and North Lakeland School and Lac du Flambeau Public School administrators, as well as with medical director Dr. Adrienne Laverdure at Peter Christensen Health Center in Lac du Flambeau.
"We're closing North Lakeland School and Lac du Flambeau School due to the high rate of absences among both students and staff," Egan told The Lakeland Times in a Monday afternoon interview. "There is no longer an environment conducive to learning and the health and safety of students and staff are a major concern. We came to the decision that it would be best to try and keep people at home for the next few days and let this thing run its course. We're really encouraging people, if they are sick, to stay home. The only way we're going to get rid of this is for people who are sick to stay home and take care of themselves."
In recent weeks, numerous individual schools - and even entire school districts - have been closed across Wisconsin as the number of influenza-like illnesses, including suspected H1N1 flu cases, continue to rise to unusually high levels, sometimes into the 30-40 percent absenteeism range. If high rates of student or staff absenteeism make it difficult for schools to operate, current guidance from state education and health officials is that a limited school closure may be the best option to decrease exposure to influenza.
North Lakeland School and Lac du Flambeau Public School, ordered closed Tuesday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 1, are slated to reopen on Monday, Nov. 2.
All school and community activities at both schools are cancelled, including the North Lakeland Parent-Teacher Club's popular annual fundraising Kornstalk Karnival, slated for Friday, Oct. 30. The Halloween-themed Kornstalk Karnival has been rescheduled by the North Lakeland PTC to Friday, Nov. 13.
With the closure also scuttling a week's worth of pre-season basketball practices, North Lakeland's first boys and girls basketball games on Monday, Nov. 2 against Minocqua-Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) have been postponed to provide coaches with an opportunity to pass out uniforms and have one final practice before starting play on Tuesday, Nov. 3 versus Arbor Vitae-Woodruff School. North Lakeland's postponed game against MHLT will either be made up on another date or cancelled.
Illness guidelines
To avoid spreading illness, the Vilas County Public Health Department advises that individuals with influenza-like illness (fever, with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not go out into the community, except to seek medical care, until 24 hours after their fever has subsided without the use of Tylenol or other fever-reducing medications.
Persons exhibiting a fever are still contagious.
Persons having asymptomatic contacts with ill persons, including those with probable or confirmed H1N1 virus, are not restricted in their activities in the community. However, they are urged to assess their own health frequently. Should they become ill, they should immediately be subject to the same restrictions as those outlined above for ill persons.
Tips for protection
The Vilas County Public Health Department suggests a number of ways to stay healthy and protect yourself and those around you from getting the flu and other influenza-like illnesses.
Suggestions include:
Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
Staying home when you're sick or have flu symptoms.
Staying away from people who are sick.
Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or coughing into your upper sleeve.
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Eating nutritious meals, getting plenty of rest and not smoking.
Additional information can be found at the Vilas County Public Health Department's website, www.vilaspublichealth.com or on the Wisconsin Division of Public Health website, www.pandemic.wisconsin.gov.
You may also place a free and confidential "211" call for information on the H1N1 virus, including prevention tips and community resources.
Supported by United Way, community foundations, hospitals, local governments and the Wisconsin Division of Health Services, the 211 service is available throughout Wisconsin 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Please see Friday's Lakeland Times for additional coverage on the North Lakeland School and Lac du Flambeau Public School closures. Eric Johnson can be reached at ejohnson@lakelandtimes.com.
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