FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 14, 2009
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON ON THE CLOSING OF THREE QUEENS SCHOOLS DUE TO H1N1
“Today, I joined New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to announce that the New York City Health Department has recommended closing three schools in Queens after documenting unusually high levels of influenza-like illness. The schools will close tomorrow and remain closed for at least five school days.
“We will continue to work closely with New York City officials to monitor the situation at these three schools and schools across the State to ensure that we are taking all necessary precautions to protect our children and families. I continue to urge residents across New York to remain alert, but not alarmed.”
The three schools that closed in Queens include:
- I.S. 238Q (the Susan B. Anthony School) in Jamaica where four students and one staff member have been documented with H1N1, and, to date, more than 50 students have been sent home with flu-like symptoms.
- P.S. 16Q in Corona where 29 students were documented with flu-like symptoms.
- I.S. 5Q (the Walter Crowley Intermediate School) in Elmhurst where 241 students were reported absent from school.
To date, the New York State Department of Health has reported a total of 230 cases of laboratory-confirmed H1N1 in New York State, including 63 cases in counties outside of New York City and 167 cases in New York City.
Influenza is serious and seasonal influenza is still active in New York State. An estimated 36,000 people in the United States die each year from seasonal flu. In New York, seasonal flu is responsible for approximately 2,000 deaths statewide. In 2008, New York State had eight pediatric deaths and to date in 2009, there have been seven pediatric deaths associated with seasonal flu.
The symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion and runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting as well. New Yorkers experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek immediate medical care.
Precautionary measures for both seasonal flu and swine flu include:
- Washing your hands often with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective.
- Avoiding people who are ill.
- Staying home from work or school if you are sick.
- Using tissue when you cough, sneeze or spit, and dispose of the tissue in a covered trash bin.
- Keeping hands away from your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Cleaning shared space more often such as phone receivers, keyboards, steering wheels and office equipment.
- Refraining from sharing personal items such as forks, spoons, toothbrushes and towels.
For more information about H1N1 and precautionary measures, please visit http://www.ny.gov/h1n1/index.html.