H1N1 forces Connecticut school to close

Wolcott (WTNH) - The H1N1 virus is forcing the town of Wolcott to shut down its middle school for the rest of the week. Four students at Tyrrell Middle School have been diagnosed with "Swine Flu."

There are also more than a dozen confirmed cases of Type-A seasonal influenza. In fact, a quarter of the school's student population was "out sick" today. That's about 200 students.

"Regardless of what it is, it's contagious and we've got to watch out for the kids," said parent Cheryl Jannetty.

She said the school is doing the right thing to protect the kids. She's happy it will shut down for what Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smyth promises will be a thorough scrub-down.

"We'll do all the handles, the guardrails for walking up and down the stairwells," Dr. Smyth told News Channel 8. "We'll do every desk in the school, we'll do the bathrooms and we'll do the cafeteria tables."

But one woman, who works in the school's cafeteria, said the school district waited too long to close the middle school.

Melanie Crounse said students have been sick for awhile. In fact, last week an 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. was cut a day short because several kids came down with something.

"I think it should have been done sooner, cleaned the school out, get the kids all done so it doesn't spread to the other schools," said Crounse. "Because how many siblings do these kids have?"

The district is worried about the illnesses spreading to other schools.

For now, Wolcott's other schools will stay open.

But the Superintendent said kids, who have siblings who are sick, should stay home.

"Even if they're not exhibiting the signs now, they've been exposed to seasonal flu and swine flu," said Dr. Smyth. "Do not send them to school."

"I think they're handling it fabulously. I mean there's not a lot you can do; you just have to be precautious and I think they're doing everything they can," said Jannetty.

The superintendent does not expect the closing to impact the school year in terms of the last day of school. Dr. Smyth said middle school and high school graduation is still scheduled for Friday, June 19th.

But he also said he wouldn't be surprised if the number of confirmed H1N1 cases at Tyrrell Middle School rises.