DigElogROCORI

ROCORI H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Press Conference * Who has it and how did they get it?

ROCORI H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Press Conference * Health Commissioner- Dr. Sanne Magnan

11:00 AM
ROCORI HIgh School
Cold Spring, MN   USA

6 min 30 sec video

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KEY PRESENTATION POINTS OF INFORMATION:

• Wash hands often for 20 seconds per session
• Only one of 100 tests  in MN have resulted in a H1N1 confirmation
• We can expect more cases in the area and state
• Flu viruses are very unpredictable and can evolve
• The local county is ready, the state is ready to respond
• The severity of this virus is at level one or the lowest level so far
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
• Stay at home if you're ill
• Don't touch your nose, mouth or eyes with your hands
• Stay healthy through what you eat and how you take care of your body.

ROCORI H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Press Conference * Governor Tim Palenty

11:00 AM
ROCORI HIgh School
Cold Spring, MN   USA

4 min 20 sec video

Click To Play        *QUICKTIME         *iPOD          *CELL         *You Tube

Key points made during Governor Tim Palenty's presentation.

• First H1N1 Virus in Minnesota is confirmed
• Person is a part of the ROCORI Middle School student/faculty
• ROCORI Middle School will be closed for 7 days beginning April 29
• This is a cause for concern and not a cause for panic
• Most cases in US are acting like a common influenza
• Stay home if you are sick

ROCORI MIDDLE SCHOOL CLOSED 7 Days * Apirl 29 - May 5

11:00 AM
ROCORI HIgh School
Cold Spring, MN   USA

 
Governor Pawlenty, Health Commissioner Dr. Sanne Magnan, and ROCORI School Superintendent Scott Staska, held a press conference today to discuss the next steps to be taken now the the H1N1 influenza virus has been confirmed.  The ROCORI Middle School will be closed for 7 days beginning Wednesday, April 29th.  This closure began yesterday, Wednesday and will continue through next Tuesday. 

Today Minnesota became the 12th state in the nation with a confirmed case of swine flu.Ten other cases in this region of the state are still being evaluated for possible confirmation. 

Stay tuned later today for DigElog ROCORI coverage direct from the press conference.

SWINE FLU Update from Superintendent Scott Staska to Parents/Students

10:20 AM
April 30, 2009

ROCORI Parents:

I just wanted to provide a quick update to you.  At 9:00 this morning, the Minnesota Department of Health released information that the H1N1 influenza virus has been confirmed.  The information that we have been given is that the issue is still confined to the Middle School setting and that the conditions under which we have been operating are still valid.

There is not cause for panic or alarm; the situation has not changed a great deal.  Everything that we know is that the isolation to the Middle School setting is still true and that, according to the information, contact has been very minimal.  At the state level, the Department of Health officials have been working in "concentric circles" of influence to connect with those who are most likely to have had contact.  As long as the Department of Health has not made contact, there is not any elevated reason for concern.

We do want to encourage cooperation with state and county health officials as they move forward.  If you do receive contact from the county or state health offices, we would encourage you to cooperate with the officials.

At this point, we do not have specific plans for school.  We will be learning that information as we go through the day.  The best information we have is that the situation will not be much different than what we have already been doing.

We will continue to keep you informed as we learn information.  Thank you for your patience and assistance!

Scott Staska
ROCORI School District

Illness of ROCORI resident confirmed by CDC as new influenza strain

MEDIA PREPARE FOR TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE GOVERNOR

Testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that the illness of a Minnesota resident was caused by the H1N1 novel influenza virus.

A lab specimen was submitted to CDC for testing after preliminary tests by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) identified the patient’s illness as a “probable” infection with the new influenza strain.

Additional testing by CDC was needed to determine if the patient had the unusual new strain of influenza.

The person who became ill with the unusual virus has ties to Rocori Middle School in Cold Spring. Both the middle school and St. Boniface Elementary, which shares some facilities with the middle school, have been closed since the illness was identified by MDH as probable H1N1 flu on Tuesday night.

According to information currently available on the CDC Web site, 91 laboratory confirmed cases of the illness have occurred to date in the U.S., in addition to the case just confirmed in Minnesota. There has been one death in the U.S. from the new flu strain.

As public health agencies across the nation continue to focus their efforts on containing the new virus, MDH officials are reminding people that we all have a role to play in limiting the spread of illnesses like H1N1 flu. They are reminding people that you can protect yourself from influenza and other respiratory diseases by staying home if you’re sick, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, washing your hands thoroughly and frequently, and limiting your contact with people who you think might be sick.

Watching your own health can also protect you. If you have traveled within the past week to Mexico or other areas where H1N1 novel influenza is circulating, and you develop fever along with other flu symptoms, call your health care provider. Tell them about your symptoms and travel history. For more information on novel influenza please visit the MDH Web site at www.health.state.mn.us or contact your health care provider.

Members of the public with questions about the current international outbreak of H1N1 influenza can call the MDH hotline between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-657-3903. Stearns County has also opened a hotline for local residents. The number is 320-650-5802 and it is answered from, 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.

-MDH-

STAY TUNED TO DIGELOG ROCORI FOR GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE LATER THIS MORNING

ROCORI Middle School & St. Boniface Closed Today * Thursday, April 30th

April 30, 2009
Cold Spring, MN   USA

Governor's press conference will be held later this morning in Cold Spring.

DISTRIBUTED FROM SCOTT STASKA, ROCORI SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT Wednesday Evening

***

ROCORI Parents:

After consultation with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Governor's office, we have learned that the results of the sample testing have not returned from the Centers for Disease Control.  At this time, they are not expected back until either very late tonight or still sometime tomorrow.

Because of the delay in hearing information, we are going to continue to operate with the precautionary direction we took today.  Classes at the ROCORI Middle School site will not be conducted tomorrow, April 30, 2009.  We will have classes at ROCORI High School, Cold Spring Elementary School, Richmond Elementary School and John Clark Elementary School, but we will NOT conduct classes at the Middle School.

In conversation with Sister Sharon at St. Boniface, the logistical questions involved in our shared programs (lunch, physical education and music) have also encouraged the closing of the St. Boniface site for Thursday, April 30.

We really do not have any additional information to report because the testing process at the CDC has not been completed.  All of the information provided by the Minnesota Department of Health indicates that our focus and concern is still contained to the Middle School and that, as a district, we are able to continue to operate our other sites.  We still have not had anything identified more than AN INDIVIDUAL from the Middle School site and that, based on their information, the issue should be contained to the Middle School setting.

I know that the entire issue is frustrating and disconcerting.  If there were any ability to provide more specific or detailed information, it would help all of us.  Unfortunately, in working with a situation like this, it is my understanding that the Department does not, and cannot, provide the level of detailed information about someone involved in a disease investigation.  Our best steps are to continue to be proactive, to exercise preventive efforts, and to continue the path we have started.

When we receive any additional information, we are committed to sharing that with you.  At this time, however, we operate with the Middle School (and St. Boniface, as outlined) closed on April 30, 2009.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we journey together with the state of Minnesota on this path.

Sincerely

Scott R. Staska

***

TWIN CITIES MEDIA COVERING THE SCHOOL CLOSING

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH NEWS RELEASE LATE LAST NIGHT

No results from CDC yet on probable H1N1 novel influenza case in Minnesota
Rocori Middle School and St. Boniface Elementary School will remain closed

As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has not been notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the final test results on the probable case of H1N1 novel influenza in an individual connected with Rocori Middle School in Cold Spring, Minn. Testing by CDC is needed to confirm if the individual had the unusual new strain of influenza that has made people sick in Mexico and eight other countries, including 10 states in the U.S.

Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Sanne Magnan conferred with Rocori School District Superintendent Scott Staska and St. Boniface Principal Sister Sharon Waldoch late today. Out of an abundance of caution, they agreed to keep both schools closed until the test results from the CDC are known.

The Minnesota Department of Health also announced today that it has established an H1N1 novel influenza hotline for the general public. Phones will be answered from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-657-3903.

The lab specimen was submitted to the CDC early this morning to be tested for the H1N1 novel influenza virus, also referred to as swine flu. The individual is expected to make a full recovery and did not require hospitalization.

MDH is characterizing the case as “probable” – meaning that the MDH lab has confirmed the virus as type A influenza, but the strain cannot be identified using lab tests available to MDH.

The individual was linked with Rocori Middle School in Cold Spring, which shares some facilities with St. Boniface Elementary. Although any risk to students or staff is regarded as low, the two schools were closed voluntarily by local officials after consulting with state health officials.

At least 91 laboratory confirmed cases of the illness have now been reported in the U.S., most of them in New York, California and Texas. The disease is responsible for the death of a toddler in Texas.

MDH officials are reminding people that they have a role in controlling the spread of infections like influenza. Stay home if you’re sick, cover your cough, wash your hands frequently and limit your contact with people who you think might be sick.

If you have traveled within the past week to Mexico or other areas where H1N1 novel influenza is circulating, and you develop fever along with other flu symptoms, call your health care provider. Tell them about your symptoms and travel history.

For more information on novel influenza please visit the MDH Web site at www.health.state.mn.us or contact your healthcare provider.

-MDH-

Cold Spring Wind Turbine Presentation * PART II

It seems like everybody these days is concerned with Green Energy. By now, many folks already know that Green Energy is just a fancy way of saying environmentally friendly energy. DigElog ROCORI is proud to bring you coverage from a presentation given by David A. Winkelman, a project manager for Winklemans Environmentally Responsible Construction. Mr. Winkleman has over 30 years of experience in construction, conservation based education and marketing, targeted to national audiences of consumers.

In part two of this story, Winkleman continues to discuss his proposal for building an environmentally energy solutions distribution facility in Cold Spring. At the end of his presentation, members of the public weigh in with their concerns. DigElog ROCORI will continue to keep you up to date on this story as we learn more about the project.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PART 1 OF THIS STORY


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The Facts About SWINE FLU... CDC Influenza Division Video

In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee with the CDC Influenza Division describes swine flu - its signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill.

Here's What ROCORI Parents Woke Up To This Morning... "SWINE FLU"

6:10 AM CDT Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 Cold Spring, Minnesota, USA