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CATSKILL MOUNTAINS, NY [CHI] — The Flu has spread to multiple sleep-away camps and bungalow colonies in upstate New York. Being that today, June 12th, is visiting day for many camps, certain precautions have been taken.

“We have isolated the remaining flu cases in our infirmary,” said the nurse at Camp Emunah, a Jewish sleep-away camp for girls. “We suggest that flu patients take Tamiflu, but that only shortens the duration of the flu. We are not distributing it to the entire camp… There is no preventative [measure to be taken].”

Flu Outbreak in NY Mountains

CATSKILL MOUNTAINS, NY [CHI] — The Flu has spread to multiple sleep-away camps and bungalow colonies in upstate New York. Being that today, June 12th, is visiting day for many camps, certain precautions have been taken.

“We have isolated the remaining flu cases in our infirmary,” said the nurse at Camp Emunah, a Jewish sleep-away camp for girls. “We suggest that flu patients take Tamiflu, but that only shortens the duration of the flu. We are not distributing it to the entire camp… There is no preventative [measure to be taken].”

While parents have been discouraged from visiting Gan Israel New York, a sleep-away camp for Jewish boys located in Parksville, NY, Camp Emunah feels that it is “entirely up to parents’ discretion,” one administrator said. Although a few girls have left camp for the summer, Camp Emunah administration has taken steps to minimize flu exposure and feels that it is safe for families to visit with their daughters for visiting day.

An administrator at Gan Israel New York said that the camp is discouraging families from visiting their camp, which B”H has not been stricken by the outbreak, in order to minimize the risk of bringing the influenza to the campgrounds. They have also placed purifying soaps around camp.

The following is a letter that was posted on Camp Gan Israel, Parksville’s website:

Dear Parents:



In light of the recent outbreak of the Swine Flu that is spreading in some of the bungalow colonies and camps in the Catskill Region, we strongly urge all parents and children who may have come in contact with the virus to refrain from coming to camp.



We strongly recommend that on visiting day, parents remain on campgrounds with their children, to prevent exposure or contact with the Flu. If you will be taking your children off camp grounds, please be cautious and do not take them to the bungalow colonies and camps that have had cases of the flu.



BH at present we have had no cases of the Swine Flu in our camp. We want to prevent any outbreak of the flu at our camp and are urging you to please assist us in maintaining and continuing a healthy and safe summer camp experience for your child and all our campers.



Sincerely,



Rabbi J. Futerfas

Director

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21 Comments

  • Believer in nature-G-d-s works

    I beg to differ as far as “There is no preventative [measure to be taken].”
    I have successfully treated and prevented the common cold, as well as the influenza virus, for some time now.

    Prevent: wash hands often, especially after being outdoors and before eating. Don’t touch eyes and nose with fingers.
    Eat freshly crushed GARLIC. (2-3 cloves/day)

    Treat: Garlic, (can add cayenne pepper, ginger, horseradish for better results.)

    Good luck and best of health to all,

    YB, PA-S

  • annoyed

    I have many friends whose kids are at camps and who were not informed of the severity of the outbreak… Could it be that the camps don’t want to be shut down for the summer??? Disgusting!!!!! Take care of the children and deal with the problems later…

  • holding my nose

    Take Garlique, it’s supposed to have the same properties as eating fresh garlic & you won’t lose your friends.

  • a worried parent

    yes, I had two children in two camps call me today that they had the flu. I don’t know if they had tamiflu and got no contact from either administration. I am very upset, I feel this is very negligent.

  • more news

    The cause of the out break is unknown but what is know is that swine flu over that camp.

  • an out town mom

    my daughter had the “flu” in emunah the nurse did call..

    she is overwhelmed with kids

    but not sure the diagnosis was right

  • AnonMom

    I heard from a neighbor who’s daughter is at the Teen camp, I was completely disgusted that the parents were not informed.

    B”H my daughter is ok, but I had to call her friend’s mother to warn her because she has a baby she was bringing to visitation day!! It’s not right they have to keep the parents informed!

  • not so concerned

    YSP morristown reported many kids to have had a light form of flu this past week and the staff member dealing with them also reported to have had some symptoms. They are all back to normal b”h. They are not sure it was the swine fl or a different flu. Fact is healthy people can handle it like any other flu and recover within a few days. No need to shut down camps or worry all the parents. In worst case everyone will have to stay in bed for a few days instead of playing ball.

  • RBA

    Camp Gan Israel, Parksville, have done a great job keeping the parents informed.

    They sent out letters to every camper’s home before camp even started, asking parents not to send kids with a cold/the flu to camp on the first day, and they should bring their child up to camp once they recover.

    They also sent letters to the parent’s homes a week into camp asking that families with kids who have the flu not come into the camp grounds, nor should kids be taken to bungalow colonies where the flu is spreading.

    I am very impressed with CGI’s diligence on this matter.

  • mom 2

    Half of my daughters bunk had the flu and no one said anything. I only heard this from my daughter. We came to visit yesterday for visiting day and all seemed well and you would not know that this camp even had the flu outbreak!
    My only hope is that the healthy kids should stay healthy and the sick kids to get better quick.

  • Relax

    This ‘flu’ is less severe than the seasonal one, only it is getting more publicity. Please stop panicking. Keep a good hygiene, take garlic, and have a healthy life.

  • Get your facts straight

    To AnonMom:

    B’H Teen Camp has not been affected. They are very diligent about not letting the girls from Teen Camp go down to Jr Emunah during rest periods. Please do not spread rumors or start panic without factual knowledge.

  • dtw

    There were several campers in Detroit CGI that got the flu and the infirmary was very busy but BH, it ran it’s course and seems to have gone away. My son is a staffer, took tamiflu when symptoms started, slept in the infirmary but is now BH back on the job.

  • MELODRAMTICER

    TO DEENIEW.
    YES!!
    YOU SHOULD ONLY GO IN IF WEARING A MASK
    AND MAKE SURE TO WEAR GLOVES
    AND BRING A CANE JUST IN CASE YOU BEGIN TO FEEL WEAK
    AND MAKE SURE YOU DONT WALK AROUND ALONG IN CASE YOU SUDDENLY GET CONTAMINATED!