By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
November 4, 2009 - 10:20 a.m. EST

THUMB AREA — So far, only one school district in the Tuscola County Advertiser’s readership area has closed due to illnesses.

At the end of classes Monday, Marlette School officials sent home letters that classes would be suspended for two days due to the high number of absences because of illness.

“We had 25 percent absent (enrollment) at the high school, and 20 percent at the elementary,” said Administrative Director Teresa D’Arcy.

According to Michigan Department of Education requirements, 75 percent of a school’s student enrollment need to be present in order to have a school day.

Marlette School were shut down Tuesday and Wednesday (today).

“We expect to open again on Thursday,” said D’Arcy.

Additional information on the types of illnesses in the school district was not available.

Although some cases of H1N1 flu have been found in some schools, cases of seasonal flu, colds and bronchitis have also been making the rounds.

Getting a seasonal and an H1N1 flu shot is recommended.

The top priority to get the H1N1 vaccine are: pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants under age 6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers), health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material, children aged 6 months - 4 years, and children and adolescents aged 5 -18 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

Children and healthy young adults between the ages of 2-24, with no chronic illnesses such as asthma, would be eligible for the H1N1 flu mist nasal spray.

The spray is the live-attenuated vaccine as compared to the inactivated vaccine that most of the above group would be receiving.

Healthy children and young adults between the ages of 2-24 who do not want the nasal spray will need to wait until adequate supplies of injectable inactivated vaccine.

However, as of Friday, the following have been added as priority: Persons aged 6 months through 64 years who have medical conditions associated with a higher risk of influenza complications - diabetes, transplant individuals, asthma, COPD, Emphysema, cancer, blood disorders, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, brain or spinal cord injuries, moderate to profound intellectual disability, or developmental delays, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, weakened immune systems HIV, AIDS, or those on medications that weaken the immune system.

Screening will be done using the above criteria to receive service.

H1N1 clinics are being set up as fast as the vaccine is available.

Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier-@tcadvertiser.com.