Posted at: 11/03/2009 10:59 AM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 11/04/2009 6:02 AM
By: Brett Stagnitti

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Pembroke student dies from Swine Flu

The family of a Pembroke Intermediate School student has confirmed to News 10NBC that their son, Jared Peters, died from a confirmed case of H1N1 influenza.

Peters was 10 years old and a fifth grade at the school. He died in late October. His family did not want to speak with us today on camera.

Gary Mix, Superintendent of the Pembroke schools released a statement today saying the school district has seen a minimum increase in their absence rate. Over the last 15 days, 6.1% of students were absent.

Interim Director of the Genesee County Health Department Randolph Garney says the county received the test results late Monday afternoon from the state health lab.

Garney says the spread of H1N1 (swine flu) is on the rise among children in Genesee County.  "We've seen in the last couple of weeks an increase in absenteeism in schools," said Garney.  "In one school district it was 20% on one particular day when normally for that period 4% absenteeism occurs." 

Garney said there will be a clinic for H1N1 vaccinations Thursday from 2-4pm at the health department at County Office Building #2 in Batavia.

The priority groups recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine include:

· Pregnant women.
· Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age.
· Health care and emergency medical services personnel.
· All people from 6 months through 24 years of age.
· Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

The Genesee County Health Department advises residents to practice these strategies to decrease the spread of H1N1 in our community:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it and then wash your hands.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective.
· Avoid people who are ill.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth since germs can spread that way.
· If you have influenza-like illness (fever >100°F with cough or sore throat) stay at home for at least 24 hours after your fever goes away, without using any fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin, Advil).
· Clean shared space more often such as phone receivers, keyboards, steering wheels and office equipment.

The Genesee County Health Department can be reached at (585) 344-2580 ext. 5000.

Click here for the Genesee County Health Department website.