http://ipraudio.interlochen.org/Families_Fight_Flu_ATC.mp3
As the H1N1 flu virus continues to make its rounds in Northern Michigan, it's not hard to find someone who's been feeling a little punky. Meghan Crissinger stayed home last Friday to nurse an ailing six-year-old. And just when she thought she could go back to work, word came that her kids' school was closing down for the week.
It was an immediate scramble over what to do Tuesday. That was, until Meghan realized she really wasn't all that up for work herself.
"Nathan's pretty much been in bed with me, so I'm overly exposed," she laughs. "There's pretty much no hope for me at this point."
Since Meghan Crissinger is also pregnant, she's at high-risk of complications from this particular flu strain. She's on an anti-viral, hoping not to get too sick.
In attempt to keep husband Josh and eight-year-old Olivia healthy, the Crissinger house has been scrubbing and sanitizing. It's even become a special swine flu game.
"I've been telling them that if they don't wash their hands then they might grow a snout and a curly tail... beware of the piggy flu," she says. "So that gets them excited to wash their hands."
Despite those efforts, Meghan was up all last night with her oldest, Olivia.
She thinks it was a good idea to close up Traverse City Area Public Schools this week.
"It's something we have to be concerned with," she says. "And I would prefer that they take precautions to close the schools and get everything cleaned and sanitized, let everyone get better, just so there aren't a bunch of people getting really sick, since everyone's kinda scared that there's been lots of complications, especially with children. So I think it's better safe than sorry."
Since late last week, there have been daily announcements of new closures of individual schools and whole districts around the area.
And, while some question whether schools really need to close over a flu, TCAPS officials say, like Meghan, most parents have been thanking them for making the call to close. Executive Director of Human Resources Chris Davis says the schools have never recently seen this number of students out with the flu.
The whole idea of closing is to keep kids from congregating together and spreading germs.
"One thing that can really help out our students is if they are avoiding crowds," Davis says. "If they're avoiding where lots of other people are and can stay close to home, it might curtail this H1N1 sooner."
People who get the flu can spread it even after they feel healthy, up to 24-hours after the fever breaks. But, with a sudden school vacation, students who feel healthy may not be all that excited about staying home. Dinner hour Tuesday at the food court wasn't particularly busy, but it took just minutes for IPR to find a group of Traverse City West Middle School students hanging out. One student said he had been running a fever earlier in the day.
To this crowd, staying home might seem boring, but not so for the Lesinski household.
Mike and Jessica Lesinski have twins, Aubrey and Braxton, who are almost two years old. The twins also have a baby sister.
Mike and Jessica are both teachers, and it was a big relief to get nearly a week off school. Their parents watch the kids during the day, while they're at work. So the only likely way the kids would get sick would be if mom and dad bring the bug home from school.
Jessica and Mike Lesinski have gone so far as to wash all their clothes when they walk in the door.
"As far as us getting it, we weren't as worried about that," Jessica says. "But, you know, Adelyn's not yet six months, so she couldn't be vaccinated. And the highest-risk category is two-and-under. And we've got three kids two-and-under. So we were really nervous that if they got sick it would hit them the hardest."