Dingman students with flu-like symptoms being tested for swine flu

According to a Monday update to the Delaware Valley School District's Web site, two students from Dingman Delaware Elementary School have been sent to Newton Memorial Hospital with flu-like symptoms and are being tested for swine flu.

From DVSD.org:

** 6/8/09 Update 3:00 pm**
We now know of another child from DDES who went to Newton Memorial Hospital due to flu-like symptoms. Newton Memorial routinely sends their Type A Flu tests out to determine whether or not it is swine or human. It generally takes three days for the test results to be returned. The results are returned to the primary care physician or department of health. Our school nurses have been and will continue to be in contact with the parent to obtain the results of the tests.


** 6/8/09 Update 10:15 am**
Dr. Michael O’Neill from Skyland Pediatrics in Sparta, NJ issued the following statement:

“a child was seen in our office over the weekend with unspecified flu illness. We have been seeing many children in our office with flu-like symptoms; however, there is no need to panic. If your child is having flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, you should consult your primary care physician and keep your child home from school. Testing specifically for swine flu is not routinely done unless the child’s symptoms are severe enough to cause them to be hospitalized. Use common sense methods to prevent the spreading of germs such as proper hand washing, proper disposal of tissues and coughing into tissues or elbow.”