Swine flu prompts UIL to postpone events until May 11

Swine flu prompts UIL to postpone events until May 11

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Following the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas, all public high school events will be postponed until May 11, according to the University Interscholastic League, which oversees sports and extracurricular activities in the state.

Regional track meets scheduled for this weekend were pushed back to May 14-16. The UIL’s state golf and tennis tournaments will be held on their previously scheduled dates, May 11, and will not be affected.

UIL officials said the decision to postpone all sporting and academic events was based on a recommendation from David Lakey, the state commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and in consultation with the Texas Education Agency.

In a press release on its website, the UIL cited the “outbreak of the swine flu in Texas” as reason for the postponement.

“The health and safety of our student activity participants is of the utmost importance,” Charles Breithaupt, the UIL’s executive director, said in a statement. “Taking every possible precaution to prevent the further spreading of this disease is an important contribution to the welfare of our great state, and altering the schedule of our events is a way to keep our participants safe.”

There have been almost 100 swine flu cases reported in the U.S., though deaths from the virus had been confined to Mexico until state and federal officials announced Wednesday morning that a toddler from Mexico City died this week in Houston from complications caused by the virus.

The 22-month-old boy had traveled to South Texas to visit family, when he became ill and was transferred to Houston, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The state agency said swine flu cases have been confirmed in Dallas and Guadalupe Counties, but no local cases have been reported.

Since the virus reached Texas, school districts around the state have taken precautions to quell the spread of germs.

The Austin school district created a page on its website with information on symptoms and ways to stay healthy.

Some suggestions from the district:

• Wash hands often with soap and water after coughing, sneezing, or touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• If you feel sick with flu-like symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control recommends staying home from work or school and limiting contact with others.
• Parents are asked to contact their school or healthcare provider if their children are sick with flu-like symptoms.

For more information, on the UIL’s new schedule visit www.uil.utexas.edu. To see the Leander district’s web page, visit http://leanderisd.org/.