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As a parent of a child in the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District, I have always had concerns about some policies that seem to promote school attendance for sick children. The recent swine flu epidemic has prompted me to express my concerns publicly. As of today, 430 schools in the US have closed. Our government is recommending any school with confirmed cases stay closed for at least 14 days because children can be contagious for 7 - 10 days. The CDC is advocating standard, common sense precautions in order to stop the spread of the disease. Per the director of the CDC, “If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn't go to school.” Maybe if

[Update: As of late Saturday, the Missouri Dept of Health and Senior Services released that the two probable cases are from Howard County.] I've been trying to help our online community by providing Swine Flu information for Missouri as it becomes available. However, it has been frustrating to say the least because the Missouri state agencies responsible for releasing the information won't be specific. It took scouring several posts to find that the first probable case was near Kansas City. Yesterday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that two more probable cases were discovered in "Central Missouri" (a 50,000 square mile target) but no specific counties or cities have been named. The official reason for not releasing

Gov. Nixon announces prompt state response to first probable Missouri case of swine flu JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today reported that the swine flu (H1N1) virus already spreading in other states appears to have reached Missouri. The administration is responding by ensuring that anti-viral medications are distributed to the affected site and that the case is properly handled.

As of 1:00 p.m. April 27, 2009, there have been no reported cases of swine flu in Missouri. Local health officials, first responders, community representatives and the Emergency Management Director met today to discuss the evolving swine flu situation. Butler County has increased its disease surveillance, and remains in constant contact with state health department officials. The Butler County Health Department is providing information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), related to swine flu, to local media outlets, community leaders and the public. Additionally, the health department has notified healthcare providers, child care facilities, restaurants, etc. in Butler County regarding guidelines for the identification and treatment of swine flu.

CNN Reported today: The sport of polo needs new oversight to protect its prized horses, the nation's largest animal protection organization said after reports that a pharmacy's mistake with medication may have killed 21 animals. "This tragedy has brought to light the absence of drug policies and regulation within the sport of polo," said Keith Dane, director of equine protection for the Humane Society of the United States. This is the precise reason that our country gets in trouble.