It does not appear to be a widespread problem in Missouri – not yet, anyway. But state education officials are concerned about the spread of the H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu, throughout the state.
 
 Jim Morris with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) says it appears as though any children suffering symptoms of the flu are likely infected with the H1N1 virus.“The health officials are telling us that, essentially, every flu that’s out there now – all the cases of flu that are out there now – are H1N1,” said Morris in an interview with the Missourinet. “For all practical purposes they’re assuming it’s H1N1 because we’re really ahead of the normal flu season.”Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

He adds children are particularly susceptible to the H1N1 vorus.

“It poses a particular threat to children, which is sort of unusual for the flu, which often hits older people the hardest,” said Morris. “So, schools are being, in my view, super cautions about their readiness for flu and their policies in dealing with kids and staff who aren’t feeling well.”

The spread of the flu is leading to school districts shutting down schools. And the days off will have to be made up.

“We hope, of course, that these closures are few and far between,” said Morris. “If it stays this way then school districts will simply make up the lost days – if they don’t already have make up days built into their calendar – they can make two or three days, missed because of flu, without much difficulty.”

Education and health officials are closely monitoring trends to determine whether the flu outbreaks become more severe in the weeks ahead. Morris says officials will have to decide on a course of action in the event of a widespread outbreak.