Illness at Range not swine flu

A flu outbreak that closed Range Elementary School for the last week of school earlier this month does not appear to be swine flu.

Zachary Thompson, director of the Dallas County Health Department, confirmed that there has only been one confirmed case of H1N1 in Mesquite, a 24-year-old resident who was diagnosed in April.

“Our assumption was that [the students] all had flu-like symptoms,” Thompson said. “We couldn’t confirm that it was swine flu, but there were enough cases of flu-like symptoms that caused concern to go ahead and close the school. The concern was to prevent any potential outbreaks in the school or in the community. We have not had any reports since then of any outbreaks.”

Ian Halperin, the director of public information for Mesquite ISD, said the district did not know what happened with the children after school was let out.

“We weren’t monitoring the kids once they went home. Those kids are home for the summer,” Halperin said. “That’s why we encourage parents to take their children to the doctor, as that’s the only way we find out about it- if the doctors report it to the health department.”

The outbreak at Range began during the last week of May, with more than 160 students and staff members absent from school on June 2. Summer vacation at Range began three days early to prevent the spread of the disease.

Staff writer Ann Marie Shambaugh contributed to this report.

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