H1N1 and youth camps

[GeekDrew]

Has anyone considered the repercussions of conducting a youth camp this summer, with the swine flu issues and all? I heard (from a very reliable source that I cannot quote for numerous reasons) that a child was recently found to have been infected with swine flu while at a rural youth camp. Then another child that was at the camp started exhibiting symptoms, and the initial test was positive (subsequent test not yet released, to the best of my knowledge). Now health officials are quietly recommending that all of the kids that were at the camp be tested for swine flu, and they're sending them to various hospitals.

If swine flu is indeed so contagious, and given that most youth camps (at least as far as I know) have substantial numbers of kids in very close proximity to each other, why are these camps continuing to be held right now? Yeah, it would probably disappoint quite a few kids if camp was canceled, but it could definitely be beneficial from a wellness standpoint.

</rambling>

Thoughts?

 

[Nik]

You leave your house and interact with other humans every day. Would you prefer we all wear bubble suits or just lock ourselves inside out of fear?

 

[Scouzer]

You are being ridiculous. Seriously, stop being such a princess.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I didn't realize there were people still worrying over this non issue.

 

[tfinch2]

Kids immune systems need a workout.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Someone in my office had swine flu apparently... and I survived to tell the tale!

This message brought to you by the Swine Flu Syndicate

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Nik
You leave your house and interact with other humans every day. Would you prefer we all wear bubble suits or just lock ourselves inside out of fear?

... neither. I work in a public building. I'm not afraid to go to work, or out to a restaurant, or etc. I'm talking specifically about youth camps here. Kids sometimes tend to hide their illnesses, particularly when they don't want to ruin their fun. Camps are also places where (at least with the youth camps I've been to) kids aren't permitted to leave unless they're exhibiting extremely obvious symptoms of illness, or if the parents call and request that they be removed from the camp.

In effect, these people are forcing kids to be in very close proximity to each other, with very little care about whether or not there's any medical attention. Schools and school sponsored activities generally have to comply with all kinds of laws and etc that private camps do not. Schools usually have better trained staff to deal with emergencies than camps do -- I know camp counselors who (regardless of the illness) will just tell the kid to "man up and deal with it".

And yeah, I am biased. The camp where this happened (that caused me to create this thread) was one that I was forced to attend when I was a kid, and where there were kids that were sick that weren't allowed to leave, that we other kids had to be around constantly, the entire length of the camp.

 

[Gibsons]

Summer is not influenza season.

 

[Locut0s]

Well given that the current strain of swine flu going around is no worse than any other seasonal flu they shouldn't do anything different from what they do any other year with seasonal flu. The CDC and WHO is keeping a close eye on it so if it mutates we will know but currently like I said above.

 

[nanette1985]

Don't know about other camps, but the one my grandson attends sent a zillion pages about their flu policy, the kid had to be tested and certified flu-free, and lots of info about what to do if anybody gets sick. I'll let you know at the end of camp whether anybody gets horribly sick.