District says to wash hands

With two confirmed cases of swine flu to the east, and a probable case to the west, Newport-Mesa parents and students find themselves wedged between the latest cases of an illness spreading across the world.

In the latest local case of swine flu, a Fountain Valley elementary school announced it will be closed for at least a week while one of its students deals with a probable case of the virus. The case is the one of nine in Orange County, with two Irvine people confirmed to have swine flu and seven others in the county, including the Fountain Valley student, considered “probable.”

The illness, a respiratory illness in pigs caused by infection that started in Mexico, doesn’t appear to be a great concern to parents or students in the district.

As the flu spread, Newport-Mesa school district officials have taken their cues from county and state health experts and added on preventive measures. District nurses note absenteeism peaked last week during the nation’s height of concern, but Monday saw no increase of missing students. School officials emphasize to students to wash their hands and report any symptoms of illness. The district has also started cleaning buses daily and training nurses on taking proper oral swabs in case a swine flu case does pop up, said district spokeswoman Laura Boss.

“It’s a big project but something we feel is necessary,” Boss said. “We’re trying to deal with this aggressively. We’ve taken every precautionary step possible.”

Parents and students at California Elementary School in Costa Mesa on Monday were unmoved by the flu. Most said they’re simply stressing cleaner habits for their kids.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal, it’s just like any other flu,” said Everett Whitmer, who has a child at the school.

Students said they’ve been told to wash their hands and avoid anyone coughing, but that’s about it.

For more information on local responses to swine flu, go to the Orange County Department of Education’s website, www.ocde.us/flu_update.asp.

— Michelle Mocarski contributed to this report

Reporter JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].