“H1N1 virus can be easily prevented and easily taken care of because of the stage it is in now,” says local pediatrician, Angie Anderson. The swine flu or H1N1 virus has been a growing concern of many people in the United States throughout the beginning of 2009 and 2010 school year. H1N1 is not in a stage where it is not known as an outbreak. Doses of Tamiflu are not being given out now because if they were used now, they would not be as effective later if the disease turns into an outbreak.

            The swine flu or H1N1 virus originated in Mexico.  The virus began by human, pig, and bird virus strains combining to become the H1N1 virus. It slowly has migrated to the United States and is spreading quickly. As of October 4 one person has died in South Dakota due to H1N1. The man was a 40 year old with previous respiratory problems.

            SHS school nurse Celeste Bohling says that the H1N1 virus has not seemed to affect Stevens High School more than the average seasonal flu. The number of students out of classes because of swine flu is confidential, and right now that the number is undetermined. Many students get the symptoms of swine flu but do not report to a doctor, which means that the person could have either the common flu or cold, or swine flu. This makes the numbers hard to collect.

            Many letters have been sent home to parents and students about the H1N1 virus and throughout the classrooms to alert everyone about the symptoms and effects of H1N1. If you are a student in class and you begin to feel sick with symptoms such as headache, body ache, fever, or sore throat, you will be asked to leave the room immediately and go straight to the school office to be sent home.

    As soon as students suspected of H1N1 reach the office, they are asked to wear a mask until they leave the building or their ride picks them up. This procedure is taken because the virus causing the symptoms is undetermined at that point in time.  Students are allowed back at school when the fever has been gone for at least 24 hours with no fever medications used.

            Swine flu can be prevented with simple steps that can help in arresting the spread of this virus: washing hands, not sharing drinks, and getting plenty of rest, and cutting back on public and private displays of affection.  If you are sick, stay home. “The H1N1 virus can be prevented with good hygiene and not sharing germs,” says Angie Anderson.