LAWRENCE: Schools alert for flu symptoms

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Lawrence Township public schools, as well as Rider University, so far have escaped the rapidly expanding outbreak of swine flu, school officials said Wednesday morning.
    Lawrence public school district officials said that although there were no confirmed cases of swine flu in New Jersey as of Wednesday, they are doing “everything possible” to protect the students’ health. As of Wednesday, five cases in the state were awaiting confirmatory testing, with results expected by today, Thursday, according to the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
    In an e-mail message from the school district, officials are urging parents to keep their children home if they are sick and to review good hygiene practices with them. Parents also should remind their children not to share personal items or food or drinks with anyone else, officials said.
    Rider University spokesman Dan Higgins said the school is keeping students, faculty, staff and parents informed of the latest developments through e-mail and information posted on the college’s Web site, www.rider.edu.
    “We are closely monitoring the situation,” Mr. Higgins said. “This is a rapidly developing story, and we are keeping the (Rider) community informed. We are monitoring the situation at Westminster (College of the Arts), as well.”
    Westminster College of the Arts — formerly known as Westminster Choir College and which is located in Princeton Borough — is a part of Rider University.
    Mercer County officials also are keeping tabs on the status of swine flu. Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes stressed that swine flu is a cause for concern, but not panic.
    “I understand people may be concerned from what they are hearing about the swine flu,” Mr. Hughes said, “but I want to reassure our residents we are in constant communication with the state Department of Health and Human Services and our local health departments about this illness.”
    The symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal flu and include fever, lack of appetite, coughing and fatigue, according to the Lawrence Township Health Department. Symptoms also may include sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
    The township Health Department recommended following the same precautions that are recommended during the regular flu season — beginning with avoiding close contact with people who are sick and, if you are sick, keeping a distance from others to protect them from getting sick.
    Frequent hand washing is recommended. People should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth. Germs are spread when a person touches something that is contaminated and then touches his or her own eyes, nose or mouth.