Jul 7, 2009 7:44 pm US/Eastern
Summer Camp Takes Precautions Against Swine Flu
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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An H1N1 strain of the swine flu virus, viewed through a microscope.
AP
At Cranberry Lake Ecology Camp, the only thing they want kids to catch are insects. To keep swine flu at bay, frequent hand sanitizing became part of the camp routine.
"We want to tell them not to be alarmed, not to be too concerned, but to put in place some practical measures in order to make sure that summer camp stays fun," said Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Westchester Health Commissioner.
Lipsman said those measures include sanitizing door knobs and other surfaces and checking campers for fever.
"They did warn us that if the kids are coming in with heightened-flu like symptoms, high fever, we're going to ask you to come up and get them," said Neil Aaron, Ardsley resident.
Aaron said after dealing with swine flu at school, flu at camp is not that big a deal. His children, Evan and Rachel, were spending the summer at Camp Echo Lake in the Adirondacks.
On July 4, the Aarons got an e-mail telling them that of 460 campers, nine had been sent home with flu-like symptoms and three had tested positive for the flu.
"A couple of kids in my son's bunk were sent home. None of them tested positive, so they're just being cautious so we think about it. We're not on edge about it," Aaron said.
Three weeks ago the Muscular Dystrophy Association canceled summer camp for thousands of children worried about the toll swine flu would take on children with weakened respiratory systems.
But MDA camp has been the exception.
Most summer camps have opened right on schedule, with precautions in place to ease parents' anxiety and keep campers safe.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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