Evening star., 1945-12-13
Flu Absences
Hit40% in Some
County Schools
Officials Believe
AiIment on Decline,
Survey Shows

The incidence Of "fu"-or border
Ing cases of colds-has resulted in
public school absenteeism running
up as high as 40 per cent In some
communities, a survey of nearby
Maryland and Virginia localities
disclosed today.
School and public health officials
were queried, yet in no case was
the term epidemic" employed; to
the contrary, there was reluctance
IN some instances to discuss the sub
ject for fear the public might be-
come alarmed.
The survey did turn up the fact,
however, that officials at the Alex
andria Hospital have discussed the
advisability of temporarily barring
visitors to that institution purely
as precautionary measure" No
action along this line has been
taken, Assistant Superintendent
Carter Friend declared, although he
acknowledged the subject has been
discussed between hospital and city
health officials.
Allment Believed Mild.
Another feeling" on the subject
among school superintendents and
health officers is that the prevalence
OF the ailment is on the decline.
More concrete, however, is evi-
dence that the cases of "fu" and
colds are of very mild form since
absenteeism in individual cases
averages but two, three and some
times four days, indicating a quick
recovery. Pneumonia does not ap-
pear to enter the picture in the
Maryland and Virginia areas can
vaSSed.
School superintendent Edwin w.
Broome of Montgomery County said
absenteeism amounting to about 40
per cent had been reported in the
Damascus area, while in other areas
OF the county, including Rockville.
attendance now is at about rs per
cent. DR.. v. L. Ellicott, health Of
f1cer OF that county, confirmed the
variable reports from different areas
and also that the illness appears to
be OF a mild form because of abb
sences of about two or three days.
School Superintel -ent w. T.
Woodson OF Fairfax County asserted
check of attendance had been
made little earlier this week, in
dlcating from Is to 80 per cent abb
senteeism among pupils. His OBJ
servation of a mild form of FLU"
was confirmed by the county health
officer, DR.. Nelson Podolnick, who
added, however, that the incidence
now seems to be at its peak there.
Prince Georges Reports.
Absences ranging between IS and
40 per cent have been reported from
some schools in Prince Georges
County. School Superintendent P.
G. Shugart stated at Marlboro. Like
other educators, he said that his
teaching staff had been "hit," in
1 dicating the malady is not confined
alone to youth. Teachers in Laurel
have been hardest hit, it appears
while in some other sections, includ-
ing Bladensburg, it seems to be
slackening off, he said.
In Alexandria, both Superinten-
dent T. c. Williams and Health Of
flcer T. R. Shrop agreed the form
OF the sickness appears to be only
mildly virulent. Out of 253 teach
ers, Mr.. Williams said, the most
that have been out at one time were
IA. Absenteeism among students
runs up to about Is per cent, he
estimated, although it appears to be
diminishing.
In Arlington, Superintendent
Fletcher Kemp could not be reached
for direct comment, but his Office
said only there was a moderate
number" of cases reported and they
were on the decline. There will
be no school closing" the spokesman
added. Washington-Lee High School
in Arlington was queried, however,
and Assistant Principal F. j. Cava-
ier said absence had run UP to
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