By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-835706.mp3
Dallas, TX – A turn-around by the Centers for Disease Control on swine flu closures has local school districts rushing to get kids back to class. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
The CDC had advised schools to close if they had a confirmed or suspect case of swine flu. Now they have reversed that, saying the illness is not as bad as expected.
At a briefing shortly after the new guidance, Dr. Sandra Parker, with Tarrant County Public Health, defended the Department's decision to advise the Fort Worth School district, and others, to close.
Parker: We know now that the disease is much more mild than we had been seeing in neighboring countries. The persons becoming ill have not required hospitalization. So I think we have good news that has come about. But at the time, when we made the recommendations, and when the school officials made their decisions, we made it with the information we had at that time.
Fort Worth school staff and teachers return to work today and tomorrow, students on Friday. Mansfield, Birdville, Northwest and Decatur schools reopen today. Cleburne schools stay closed until Monday. Plano's three closed schools reopen today. Richardson's Canyon Creek elementary reopens today, but Northlake Elementary will remain closed until Monday because of high absenteeism. Lewisville students return to class tomorrow.