First Swine Fly Death in NYC
Update - May 17: The assistant principal of a I.S. 238 in Hollis, Mitchell Wiener, is the first (and, so far, only) confirmed death in New York City attributed to swine fly complications. Wiener had been a patient at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.22 Schools Closed in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx due to Swine Flu
- IS 238Q - reopening Friday, May 22
- PS 16Q - reopening Friday, May 22
- P255 (located at PS 16Q) - reopening Friday, May 22
- IS 5Q - reopening Friday, May 22
- JHS 74Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- PS 107Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- MS 158Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- IS 25Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- World Journalism Preparatory (located at IS 25Q) - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- PS 233 (located at IS 25Q) - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- IS 318K - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- PS 19Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- PS 32Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- PS 209Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- P9 (located at PS 209Q) - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- PS 130M - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- PS 35Q - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- Merrick Academy Charter School (located in Queens) - reopening Tuesday, May 26
- South Bronx Charter School (three locations) - reopening date TBD
- Our Lady of Lourdes in Queens Village
M.S. 158Q in Bayside, I.S. 25Q in Flushing, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Queens Village closed as of May 17, and will remain closed for at least 5 school days.
Three schools I.S. 238 in Hollis, I.S. 5 in Elmhurst, and P.S. 16 in Corona closed, as of May 14, 2009, due to outbreaks of swine flu. More than 50 students had already been sent home with flu-like symptoms, all mild cases. The schools are scheduled to reopen Friday, May 22.
Three schools closed on May 15: J.H.S. 74 in Bayside, P.S. 107 in Flushing, and I.S. 318 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. These are scheduled to reopen May 26.
An assistant principal, however, is reported to be on a ventilator, the most severe case in New York City to date. At a news conference on May 14, Mayor Bloomberg reported that the assistant principal may have had pre-existing conditions that exacerbated the flu sickness.
Initial Flu Outbreak at St. Francis Prep
Swine flu in Queens, New York, was confirmed on April 26, 2009, by the Centers for Disease Control. On April 28, the city health commissioner said "many hundreds" from St. Francis Preparatory High School are ill.
45 students and family/friends of students at St. Francis Prep were confirmed as infected with swine flu virus. All cases were considered mild, and there have been no fatalities. These are the first confirmed cases of swine flu in New York City. Over 1,000 students, teachers, family, and friends are believed to have suffered mild cases of flu.
Some Queens students at St. Francis Prep had recently returned from a spring break vacation to Mexico, where the swine flu virus has caused over 80 deaths. It has been reported that some students had visited Cancun during the school's spring break.
Public School 177, a school for autistic children near St. Francis Prep, was closed April 28 as a precaution. 12 students are thought to have fevers, which may be swine flu.
What Can You Do?
Wash your hands frequently.
Use tissues to blow your nose.
There is no need to stock up on the drug Tamiflu.
