H1N1 Clinic on Sunday

From the Department of Health:

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The seventh in a series of H1N1 flu clinics sponsored by Mass Dispensing Area 36 (MDA 36) is scheduled:

Sunday, November 22

3:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Middlefield Federated Church

402 Main Street, Middlefield.

The Federated Church is opposite the Middlefield Fire Station. The clinic is open only to residents of Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, Middlefield, and Middletown.

The clinic is free but proof of age and residency will be required. The vaccine is in ample supply and will be given out alphabetically by last name. People whose last names begin with the letters A through M can get their vaccine from 3:00 PM until 5:30 PM. People whose last names begin with the letters N through Z can get their vaccine from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM.

The H1N1 flu vaccine will be administered by nasal spray which has been approved by the FDA (Federal Food & Drug Administration) and endorsed by the Journal of Pediatrics. Millions of doses of nasal spray have been administered in clinical trials with little or no side effects. The weakened live virus is introduced to each nostril, thereby providing almost immediate immunity to the H1N1 virus. The spray offers somewhat better protection against the virus as opposed to injection. The spray does not contain preservatives such as thimerisol and does not cause the flu.

Clinic participants must be 2 through 24 years of age in good health, or healthy 18 through 49 year-olds who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age, or are health-care workers (including school nurses) or emergency medical personnel (license required) who are in good health.

Only one dose of nasal spray is needed to protect adults against H1N1 flu. However, children under the age of 9, who receive the vaccine mist, must receive a second dose in about 30 days (parents or guardians should check with their health care provider to determine if the vaccine is appropriate for their child). Children who have already received their first dose and due for another, may receive their second dose at this clinic (influenza vaccination card must be presented).

People who have a severe allergy to eggs should not receive the vaccine. Pregnant women cannot receive the vaccine by nasal spray but can get intramuscular injection (shot). The H1N1 vaccine is not effective against seasonal influenza.

More H1N1 flu clinics are expected to be scheduled for other segments of the population. The clinics are sponsored by MDA 36: the City of Middletown and the towns of Cromwell, Durham, Haddam and Middlefield.

For more information (including directions to the Middlefield Federated Church), call (860) 349-7123.

City Holds H1N1 Press Conference on Keigwin Closing

Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, Superintendent of Schools Michael Frechette, and City Health Department Director Joseph Havlicek met with the press today to discuss the closing of Keigwin Middle School for the remainder of the week due to a flu outbreak, assumed to be H1N1.

Havlicek said that 145 Keigwin students called in sick or were sent home today, nearly 45% of the 370 students enrolled at the school.

"I called this morning and there were 125 sick students," Havlicek said. "I called later there were 135. And when I called again there were 145."

That number is up from 20 sick students at Keigwin on Friday. Other schools in the system only had normal sick levels of 10% absent. Frechette reported that only a few staff had called in sick.

Havlicek said that the quick spread of the sickness is an earmark of H1N1. With a three day incubation, some have theorized that a source of the spread may have been a school dance held Friday at the school. Frechette has urged the school principal at Woodrow Wilson Middle School to call off a dance schedule for this coming Friday.

According to Havlicek, this month in the US there have been 11 deaths of children attributed to H1N1 with half of those deaths occuring after sickness of otherwise healthy teens.

"H1N1 creates a deep lung infection," Havlicek said. "And that's what's so dangerous."

Havlicek and Frechette recommend that parents of sick children keep them home.

When asked about city staff, Mayor Sebastian Giuliano had the same advice.

"Don't be a hero," Giuliano said. "If you feel anytime that you might have flu-like symptoms, don't come in. We can get along a few days without you."

Giuliano also suggested that parents of Keigwin children who become ill, who also have students at other schools may be wise to keep those children home to prevent the spread of the disease.

While Middletown has received 700 doses of H1N1 vaccine serum, it has so far only distributed those doses to children under the age of four. An additional H1N1 clinic is scheduled for Thursday.

Democratic mayoral candidate Dan Drew expressed concern for affected families and hoped for a speedy recovery for sick students, but said that the flu crisis pointed to a lack of leadership.

"The mayor wanted to have school nurses take voluntary furlough," Drew said. "But nurses would have to take those days when students are at school. You cannot take school nurses out of school, and this crisis proves it. That's just irresponsible."

H1N1 Flu Clinic on Thursday

The third in a series of H1N1 flu clinics is scheduled:

Thursday, October 29 from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Middletown Municipal Building Council Chamber

The clinic is only for residents of Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, Middlefield, and Middletown. Participants must be 2 through 24 years of age and in good health, or 25 through 49 years of age who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age, or health care and emergency medical personnel.

The vaccine will be administered as nasal mist and is not suitable for pregnant women, persons with long-term health problems, and children 6 months to 2 years of age. A second vaccine may be necessary in about a month’s time.

Parents or guardians should check their care provider to determine if the vaccine is appropriate for their child. The H1N1 flu mist is not effective against seasonal flu.

The clinic is free and by appointment only. Proof of age and residency will be required.

More H1N1 flu clinics are expected to be scheduled for other segments of the population when vaccine becomes available. The clinic is sponsored by Mass Dispensing Area 36: the City of Middletown and the towns of Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, and Middlefield.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call Lisa Mountain at (860) 344-3474.

From the Middletown Health Department

Children's H1N1 Flu Clinic Scheduled

This area’s first H1N1 flu clinic will be held Thursday, October 15 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM in the Middletown Municipal Building Council Chamber. The clinic is only for children 2-4 years of age from Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, Middlefield, and Middletown.

The vaccine will be administered as nasal mist and is usually suitable for children without any health problems. Parents or guardians should check their care provider to determine if the vaccine is appropriate for their child. The H1N1 flu mist is not effective against seasonal flu.

The clinic is free and by appointment only. Proof of age and residency will be required.

More H1N1 flu clinics are expected to be scheduled for other segments of the population when vaccine becomes available. The clinics are sponsored by Mass Dispensing Area 36 (the City of Middletown and the towns of Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, and Middlefield).

For more information or to schedule an appointment call Lisa Mountain at (860) 344-3474.

From 1909: Typhoid Not Due to Middletown Water

Below are excerpts from an article published 100 years ago today, in the Hartford Courant of September 6, 1909.

Two weeks earlier, the Courant ran a big headline, "Typhoid Fever in Middletown," and reported that there were "at least ten cases of typhoid fever in town, with several other cases that appear suspicious." The paper goes on to give the names and addresses of each infected patient, and speculates that patients may have picked it up while on vacation out of town.


Analysis shows it safe for Drinking
Tha Middletown's water supply was not responsible for the recent typhoid epidemic in this city is indicated by the report of State Chemist James A. Newlands, who has just made an examination of the water from both of the local reservoirs. The samples of the water analyzed were taken September 1. No introgen [spelling is odd in the original, I think this was a mispelling of nitrogen], either in the form of nitrates or intrites [nitrites?], was discovered in either of the samples taken. In concluding his report, Mr. Newlands says that in his opinion the water is entirely safe for drinking purposes. No evidence of any drainage contamination was discovered.

Cooking school Exhibit
A three course luncheon prepared by the girls who have been attending the cooking school conducted in the Y.M.C.A. the past few weeks, was served to the directors of the Social Service League Saturday afternoon. The girls have had instruction in both cooking and general housework while in attendance at the school.

No-License Campaign to Open Soon
The no-license campaign in this city will be opened next Sunday with a union meeting of all the churches which will be addressed by Secretary Spooner of the Connecticut Temperance Union. A number of well known speakers have been secured, and union meetings will be held for the next four Sundays. The saloon men are also well organized and the campaign will undoubtedly be a hot one.

Annual School Meeting
The annual meeting of the legal voters of the city school district will be held in the town hall on Monday, September 20, at which time three members of the board of education will be chosen. The terms of T.M. Russell, T.W. McDowell and Arthur L. Allin expire at this time, and it is understood that they will all be candidates for re-election. Among the other business to be transacted at this meeting is the election of a treasurer, a collector of taxes, and the laying of the annual tax.

Durham Favors Trolley Layout
The hearing regarding the layout of the proposed trolley line from Meriden to Guilford through the town of Durham was held in the selectmen's office of that town Saturday afternoon, and contrary to the general expertation the sentiment of the taxpayers seemed to be in favor of the layout as proposed. A number of the residents who live on the Main street opposed the layout, as they thought it would spoil the general appearance of the street. W.R. Walkley of New York, one of the summer residents, opposed the trolley for this reason. A show of hands was finally called for to guide the selectmen in making their decision in the matter. Only taxpayers owning property on the Main street voted, and the result was twenty-five in favor of the trolley with five opposed. The selectmen reserved their decision, and will go over the route Thursday in company with the directors of the road.

Notes.
The Y.M.C.A. will open this morning for the coming season. Assistant Secretary Williams is to be in charge until Secretary Nethaway returns.

The funeral of Giles D. Holmes was held at his residence at Long Hill yesterday at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. F.W. Greene officiated and was assisted by Rev. Hiram Morgan. The interment was in the Pine Grove Cemetery.

Samuel Roberts and Frank Egan, who were arrested in Hartford Friday night for flim-flamming Peter Pantelakos of this city, are to be tried in the local police court today.

Swine Flu Advisory

From the Middletown Health Department:

City turns down opportunity to purchase St. Sebastian School Building

The Finance and Government Operations Committee discussed the purchase of a historic school building at their meeting on Wednesday evening. They also discussed the Swine Flu situation and its possible impact on city finances. Through unanimous and routine votes, they supported expenditures by a variety of city departments. Final approval of the expenditures rests with the full Common Council.

The Johnson School (see correction below)
St. Sebastian School will close at the end of this school year, a decision of the Norwich Diocese, previously reported in the Middetown Press. St. Sebastian School was founded in 1944, and occupies a building which was built in 1872 as The Johnson School, part of the Middletown public school system. It is on Durant Terrace, just behind Illiano's Pizza on S. Main Street. When St. Sebastian bought the Johnson School building, the sales agreement stipulated that if the building ceased being used for education, the city would have the right of first refusal to purchase the building from St. Sebastian. Councilman Gerald Daley speculated that the city had sold the school to St. Sebastian for $1.

With the closing of the school, St. Sebastian has offered the building to the city for a price of $1.3 million. Planning Director Bill Warner said that all departments had contemplated possible uses for the school building, but none foresaw a benefit to the city. Councilmen Daley and Ron Klattenberg pressed Warner, but it seemed apparent that the building is too small, not handicap accessible, and in an inconvenient location for use as a senior center, city school, administration building, or any of the other possible city uses. The F&G Committee voted unanimously against purchasing the school.

Note added: I have posted a correction of several mistakes in the above information. The most important to note is that the school building was the home of Eckersley Hall, built in 1870. The Johnson School (1872) was on Green Street. Both schools are on the list of Middletown Historic Properties.

Swine Flu
George Dunn, Director of Emergency Management, was at the F&G meeting to gain approval for a grant and for waiving a bid requirement. After those were approved, he took the occasion to discuss Middletown's response to the Swine Flu pandemic. He said that he has assembled a crisis management team which includes representatives from the Health Department, emergency responders, the hospital, and the school system. Dunn said that all parties are working well together, and that Middletown was working closely with 7 regional towns.

Dunn said that the situation was evolving quickly and unpredictably, "By tomorrow it might be completely over or ten times worse." Daley cautioned that there is a "need to create a balance between too much panic and burying our heads in the sand." Dunn said that it was approaching the time for emergency responders to wear protective equipment (masks), and that the F&G committee would possibly be receiving a request to purchase additional equipment if the situation becomes worse.

Riverview Parking Garage and other requests
The committee approved the request by Public Works for $35,000 from the General Fund to be used for structural repairs and improvements to the Riverview Parking Garage, to be paid back upon receipt of state funding through the Local Capital Improvement Program (LOCIP). The committee also approved $40,000 to be disbursed to Public Works to cover a shortfall in the budgeted funding for sand and salt.