YMCA Takes Precautions After Swine Flu Scare

A Charlotte YMCA branch is e-mailing thousands of members to explain they may not have been exposed to the swine flu despite a scare over the weekend.

A mom contacted the Harris YMCA on Quail Hollow Road in south Charlotte on Saturday and said her two children, who had recently been in the Y’s child care center, were diagnosed with swine flu. The Y took extra precautions and e-mailed a letter to 8,000 members that said there were two confirmed cases of swine flu there.

“(The mom) called all the places the children had been in the past five days. The Y was one of many places the children had been,” explained YMCA spokeswoman Molly Thompson.

But the Mecklenburg County Health Department said the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is the only agency that can test and confirm swine flu. A representative said right now there are no cases of the H1N1 virus at the Harris Y, although there was one test sent to Raleigh on Monday. Thank you for participating. How concerned are you about catching the swine flu? How concerned are you about catching the swine flu? Very concerned Only mildly concerned Not concerned at all

The letter of warning regarding the swine flu was enough to keep many parents from leaving their children at the Harris Y’s Child Watch.

“I’m going to steer clear for a week at least,” said Christine Hamiliton.

But some moms said germs are everyone and she won’t think twice about dropping her son off.

“I bring him here every single day,” said Jennifer Loeffler. “This is one best cleanest places I bring him.”

The staff at the Harris Y said the child care center is thoroughly cleaned with bleach and soap daily.

“We've taken every step that is available to make sure the facility is clean,” Thompson said.

Toys are cleaned twice daily and the room gets a thorough antibacterial treatment weekly.