Did swine flu kill Modesto teen?

The swine flu virus on Thursday may have claimed a 19-year-old day care worker at a charter school in Modesto, officials said.

Great Valley Academy, an elementary school at 3200 Tully Road, remained open, though some worried parents took children away early and administrators sent home about a dozen others with flulike symptoms.

Because the 520-pupil school has not seen unusual absentee rates, it will continue running as normal, and probably would not shut even if testing proves that the H1N1 virus killed the young woman, officials said.

In related news, the state's public health director says the virus could sicken as many as one in four Californians this year.

As of Tuesday, the virus had sent nearly 8,000 to hospitals in the United States and killed 522, including 128 in California.

Federal health officials say the highest rate of infection has occurred in people 5 to 24 years old. Seasonal flu usually is more deadly to young and elderly patients.

Sickness caused Amanda DeLaRosa of Modesto to miss some work last week, the first of the school year, said Eldon Rosenow, founder of Great Valley Academy. DeLaRosa was the daughter of a school secretary and worked in the school's before- and after-school child care.

She was still ill Monday and went home after only a few minutes, Principal Cy Cole said. DeLaRosa died Thursday at Doctors Medical Center of an unknown cause, Stanislaus County Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Hawthorne said.

"She was a sweet gal doing her best job," Cole said. He sent a letter to parents expressing sympathy, citing "speculation that she may have had H1N1 flu" and asking families to review safety and hygiene guidelines.

Dr. John Walker, the county's public health officer, said Stanislaus County is experiencing an H1N1 pandemic and his office presumes the dangerous virus is at fault whenever a school reports sickness problems.

But closing campuses no longer is recommended by state and federal health officers as a blanket reaction to each outbreak, and no school in Stanislaus County has shut its doors. All would consult with Walker's office and make decisions on a case-by-case basis, he said.

Parent Shannon McDonough of Modesto fetched her children Thursday from Great Valley Academy after receiving a modbee.com alert about a swine flu investigation at the school. The Bee's notice was issued before authorities confirmed DeLaRosa's death.

McDonough's 5-year-old son is enrolled in the after-school service, she said, as she also buckled her 7-year-old daughter into a child safety seat. Both were sick last week for two or three days with flulike symptoms, she said.

Parents trust Great Valley

"Anytime there is misinformation and rumors, parents are going to be cautious," Rosenow said,

Other parents had heard gossip but were not alarmed.

"I completely trust Great Valley Academy," said Francesca Orr. "They're very responsive and I know they're on it. They always put our children first. The No. 1 goal is a safe and loving and learning environment."

Susan Wood said she was "absolutely not concerned" and placed full confidence in Cole.

Stanislaus County Office of Education officials emerged from the school office just before school let out, saying they had participated in a conference call with Walker.

"The recommendation is that the school stay open," county Superintendent of Schools Tom Changnon said after reviewing attendance records.

Pupils with runny noses or coughs were isolated Thursday until parents retrieved them, Cole and Rosenow said. A classroom aide watching the children wore a face mask for a couple of hours, Rosenow said.