The Collin County Health & Human Services Department? confirmed that a Wilson Middle School student has tested positive for the swine flu virus. This is the only confirmed case in the Plano Independent School District.

In order to limit the transmission of the swine flu virus and for the protection of students and staff, Wilson Middle School will be closed beginning Friday, May 1, and will reopen on Monday, May 11.

Plano ISD officials are working closely with Collin County Health officials to monitor any illnesses that are reported in our schools. The district is asking parents to keep children at home that are not feeling well. If symptoms are flu-like in nature (fever, achiness, coughing, diarrhea or sore throat), they should see their physician immediately for a flu test and report the findings to their school nurse.

Jeff Bailey, deputy superintendent, said “We made this decision for the well-being of our students, staff and families and as a measure to contain this virus. Other determinations regarding this situation will be made as necessary.”

Questions about this flu strain may be addressed to the Texas Department of State Health Services swine flu hotline at 1-888-777-5320.

Additional District Actions Related to Swine Flu

In light of recent events related to the swine flu, Plano ISD is altering plans for some student activities.

The district is complying with the University Interscholastic League revised competition schedule suspending all competitions until May 11.

As of May 1, Plano ISD is suspending all overnight student travel and field trips that occur both inside and outside of the district. These activities will resume on May 11, unless otherwise advised. School activities such as concerts, banquets and PTA events that involve only that school’s students and families will continue as usual. Wilson will not conduct school activities while it is closed.

With safety for our students being first and foremost across the district, Plano ISD has increased the frequency of disinfecting “high contact” areas at our schools.

Student absences related to the swine flu will be excused. This includes students whose parents choose to keep their children home as a preventative measure. These students will receive an excused absence and will be allowed to make up their work.

The district is monitoring this situation and is committed to making decisions in the best interest of our students and staff. Updates will be provided on the district website and through the school and district eNews.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Swine Influenza (Flu) Information
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_internal_001

Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Influenza (Flu) Information
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_internal_003

Swine Flu
April 30, 2009

HEALTH ADVISORY: 1st Swine Flu case confirmed; two probable cases being investigated

(McKINNEY, Texas) – Health authorities confirmed the first local case of Swine Flu, a 14-year-old Plano middle school student, after test results were verified by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control earlier today.

According to Collin County Health Care Services and the Plano Health Authority a student at Wilson Middle School is the only confirmed case ofH1N1 Influenza, with two more “probable” cases in the county under investigation by health authorities.

For updates and more information on a local and national basis, please logon to www.collincountytx.gov.

?

AUSTIN, TX— On the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and in consultation with Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) is altering its schedule of events due to the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas. Effective immediately, all UIL interscholastic competition is suspended until May 11.

“The health and safety of our student activity participants is of the utmost importance,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “Taking every possible precaution to prevent the further spreading of this disease is an important contribution to the welfare of our great state, and altering the schedule of our events is a way to keep our participants safe.”

As this is a fluid situation, the UIL tentatively releases the following schedule for UIL regional and state events affected by this situation.

Academic State Meet
The UIL Academic State Meet, originally scheduled for May 7-9, will be rescheduled at a later date. The Conference 4A and 5A One-Act Play competition will continue as previously scheduled on May 15-16. All other conferences competing in One-Act Play will be rescheduled. A schedule of the Academic State Meet, including One-Act Play, will be posted on the UIL web site once finalized.

Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival
The Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival, originally scheduled for May 9, has been cancelled. The UIL staff will consult with the 16 participating schools to determine whether or not to reschedule the event at a later date.

Regional Track Meets
-?All UIL regional track meets originally scheduled for this weekend, May
1-2, have been cancelled. The state track and field meet will be extended to a three-day format to include semifinal heats. The meet is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 14-16.
-?Semifinal qualifiers will be based on the district track meet results.
Each region will be represented at the state meet by the top four performances in each event for all conferences. Hand-held times will be converted to fully automatic times as defined by the National Federation of State High School Association rules. A revised track and field state meet schedule will be posted on the UIL web site no later than Friday, May 1.?
-?Qualifiers to the UIL state track and field meet will be posted on the UIL
web site on Wednesday, May 6.

Golf State Tournament:
The UIL golf state tournament will take place at the previously scheduled times, beginning May 11.

Tennis State Tournament:
The UIL tennis state tournament will take place at the previously scheduled times, beginning May 11.

Softball and Baseball:
No interschool games will take place until May 11 for either softball or baseball. Below is an altered playoff schedule for both sports.
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Softball:?????????????????????????????? ?
District Certification - April 28
Bi District Deadline - May 16 (1 game or 2 out of 3) Area Deadline - May 19 (1 game only) Regional Quarterfinal Deadline - May 23 (1 game or 2 out of 3) Regional Semifinal Deadline - May 26 (1 game only) Regional Final Deadline - May 30 (1 game or 2 out of 3) State Tournament - June 4-6

Baseball:??
District Certification - May 19
Bi District Deadline - May 23 (1 game or 2 out of 3) Area Deadline - May 26 (1 game only) Regional Quarterfinal Deadline - May 30 (1 game or 2 out of 3) Regional Semifinal Deadline - June 2 (1 game only) Regional Final Deadline - June 6 (1 game or 2 out of 3) State Tournament - June 10-13?

?

4-28-09 (McKINNEY, Texas) – Health authorities here have documented no confirmed cases of Swine Influenza A virus reported in Collin County as of late this morning. Epidemiologic investigations being conducted by Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) are ongoing, as reports of overall influenza activity are clearly beginning to increase in the community.?

The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level to Phase 4 yesterday, April 27, signifying sustained human-to-human transmission of a virus capable of sustaining community-wide outbreaks, and the increased likelihood of a pandemic.?

None of the six illnesses reported in Texas so far have been severe, but Mexico has now reported 149 deaths associated with swine influenza.?

For more information on swine flue, logon to:
www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/index.htm, and
www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/tx_flu-like_guide.shtm.?

Collin County health advisories and daily updates will be available at www.co.collin.tx.us/.

?