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RI Health Dept. Doesn't Back Closing Schools to Prevent Swine Flu Spread

Chris Boardman

Story Created: Jun 16, 2009 at 2:32 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 16, 2009 at 2:32 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Department of Health isn't recommending schools close to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Department officials said Tuesday that because of the overall mildness of the disease, the decision to close is up to the individual school district.

Director of Health David Gifford says sporadic cases of swine flu continue to increase in the community, which minimizes the effect of closing schools on the spread of illness.

State health authorities reported 39 confirmed cases as of June 9. Greystone Elementary School in North Providence was closed last week because of three confirmed swine flu cases.

Health officials in nearby Massachusetts announced Monday a Boston woman in her 30s is the first swine flu-related death in the state.
     
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Wednesday, Jun 17 at 8:49 AM UPSET PARENT wrote ...

WHAT DOES IT MATTER TO THEM? THEY WILL ONLY BACK UP THE CLOSING IF IT HAPPENS TO THIER KIDS AND THE SCHOOL THAT THEIR KIDS GO TO...THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE... WELCOME TO CORPORATE AMERICA... EVERYONE FOR THEMSELVES!!!

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Wednesday, Jun 17 at 7:47 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Good choice school is out for summer. These clowns never made a desicsion. Nothing but a bunch of workfare recipents. They must have been the surgeons at Rhode Island hospital

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Tuesday, Jun 16 at 3:12 PM K. Carberry wrote ...

Mild for who? Surely not those who have underlying health issues like asthma or diabetes for example. It is widely know that chilren can spread more virus than an adult , thus increasing the amount of poor souls likely to get their infections. Good hygeine aside , in today's world parents send their kids sick to schools. They catch it and go to work to spread it to their colleagues because no one can afford to lose pay. Many companies no longer offer any time off for illness . Swine flu kills.

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