Newberry Academy Closes Because of Flu Concerns

A private school in Newberry is closed Monday after some students returned from Mexico with flu-like symptoms.

By: Associated Press and Staff Reports | News Channel 7
Published: April 27, 2009

NEWBERRY, S.C. (AP) - A private school in South Carolina has closed after some students returned from Mexico with flu-like symptoms.

Newberry Academy's decision to close Monday came as the number of suspected swine flu cases in Mexico climbed past 1,600 and death toll past 100. At least 11 cases has been confirmed in the U.S.

Newberry Academy officials said in a statement that seniors were in Mexico earlier this month and some had flu like symptoms when they returned. Calls to the school rang unanswered Monday.

State Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Jim Beasley said test results on the students could come back as early as Monday afternoon. The agency has stepped up efforts to investigate all flu cases in South Carolina. There have been no confirmed swine flu cases in the state.

The school will decide later Monday whether there will be school Tuesday.

The State newspaper reports 15 students became ill after returning from Cancun, Mexico.

Newberry Academy released this statement on the school website:

Since our seniors were in Mexico a week before last, upon their return some had flu like symptoms, we have been asked to close school on Monday, April 27th, as we await test results to make sure it is not the swine flu. An announcement will be made on WKDA and this site beginning at 3:00 PM as to whether there will be school Tuesday.

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The Centers for Disease Control has this advice on what you can do to stay healthy from their website:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.