Swine flu claims 2, hits school

Swine flu is being blamed for two more Tampa Bay area deaths as well as a spike in absences at a Hillsborough County private school.

The 50-year-old Pinellas County woman and 34-year-old Polk County man who died both had other health problems, as did the six Hillsborough County residents whose deaths were linked to the virus. The most recent deaths were the second for each county.

Where the woman lived, her other health problems and when she died were not available, said Maggie Hall of the Pinellas County Health Department, which learned of the death Wednesday.

The Polk man died Wednesday.

"These deaths highlight the seriousness of influenza, especially in those with an underlying medical condition," Polk County Health Department spokesman Daniel Haight says in a statement. "It is very important that a person with mild flu not expose those at higher risk."

That's what students at Tampa Catholic High School appear to be doing. Twenty percent of the 700 students have been absent this week, many with flu-like symptoms, Principal Tom Reidy said.

The outbreak has led to the cancellation of junior varsity football practice for at least two days this week.

"We've told people to stay home if they feel like they have anything," Reidy said. "I'm happy our kids and parents are listening to that."

The increase in swine flu was not unexpected. Young people are especially susceptible, and on school campuses, the highly contagious virus can spread quickly.

Hillsborough County Health Department Director Doug Holt predicted it would take two weeks for influenza to invade a campus once classes started; that's how long Tampa Catholic students have been back at school. There have been no reports of outbreaks at other Hillsborough public or private schools.

At the University of South Florida, where classes started Monday, students already are showing up at the health center with flu-like symptoms, medical director Egilda Terenzi said. She did not have numbers but noted the clinic saw a small but steady stream of suspected swine flu cases over the summer.

USF has warned faculty members to be prepared for campus closings of up to six weeks if the virus starts spreading quickly. But if it comes to that, they plan to hold classes through e-mail, Skype or some other virtual method.

While swine flu is extremely contagious, it is usually mild and lasts just a few days.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, and aches and pains. An antiviral medication such as Tamiflu, available by prescription, can help lessen a bout's severity.

Steve Sims, a theology teacher at Tampa Catholic, is among the absentees this week. His doctor confirmed he has swine flu.

"It started Sunday with a little sore throat and a thundering headache," Sims said. Coughing fits, aches, sinus congestion and a fever of almost 103 degrees followed, but Tamiflu and ibuprofen have helped, he said.

"Now I know why they call it swine flu. Ever since I got it I've been sweating like a pig."

Tampa Catholic was relatively flu-free until late last week, Reidy said. There has been no panic among parents, who have been "fantastic."

"I've spent the morning returning multiple calls of concern, but no one is overreacting," he said Wednesday.

The Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg put a plan in place years ago to address pandemics within the schools. That includes keeping children with symptoms at home and daily reports by school staff on all sicknesses, so patterns can be detected.

Tampa Catholic football coach Bob Henriquez said eight to 10 of his varsity players are out with flu symptoms and the illness is so rampant among the junior varsity squad that practice has been canceled twice.

Students playing sports are more likely to get infected than others because of their close contact, said county health department spokesman Steve Huard. Coaches are trying to limit that by setting rules, such as no mouths touching communal hoses or water bottles.

Football practices at public high schools started Aug. 10. Lanness Robinson, director of athletics for Hillsborough County schools, said he knows of no teams experiencing significant absences.