Health department seeing more flu in Erie

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The Whiteside County Health Department has been monitoring absenteeism in schools this year. Most schools have remained steady throughout the year, except for Erie High School.

At the beginning of the school year, Erie High averaged three students a day absent with flu-like symptoms and 12 sick students overall. In the last week, the average has “spiked” to 12 students a day with flu-like symptoms and 36 sick students overall a day.

“We’ll try to get them the [H1N1] flu vaccine there as quickly as we can,” said Beth Fiorini, the Whiteside County health administrator.

Health departments expect to receive their first shipments of the H1N1 vaccine next week. They plan to visit local schools and give children who have parental consent free vaccinations.