Currently, 22 million Americans have become infected since last April, with 98,000 hospitalizations and almost 4,000 deaths. A CDC rep was quick to point out that it is not as severe as the "Spanish Flu" pandemic of 1918-1919, which killed somewhere between 20 and 40 million people worldwide. But, it still is not something to ignore or take lightly, especially for special needs students.

At the recent NAPT conference in Louisville, Charlie Ott, director of transportation for Springfield (Mo.) Public Schools, mentioned that a local school, which housed a high number of special needs students, was closed after 20 percent of the school's population was infected with the H1N1 virus. With the lowered immune system that goes along with certain disabilities, it was no surprise to hear that the district had decided to temporary close shop. Lisa Swank, a transportation coordinator in Lyndon, Kan., is seeing similar rates, with six local school districts seeing 20 to 30 percent of its students infected.  

I've never been one to sound the alarm every time there is a "warning" issued concerning possible outbreaks, but I understand the necessity of keeping students safe, whether on the bus or in the classrooms. Look for an article on what schools are doing to battle the H1N1 virus and how they are being affected in the January 2010 issue of STN.