Stories of H1N1 and the seasonal flu have flooded the media, but how bad is it?

In Lebanon, most schools are seeing only a slight increase in absences, if any.

"We've had a lot of kids going home sick in the last couple of weeks, but every year we have this stomach virus and strep throat going around," said Rhonda Atchley, Riverview School secretary.

Parents are heeding advice to keep children home if they are sick which is helping keep absences down, said Laura Brazeale, Green Acres School office manager.

In September, overall absences district wide are down from last year, according to attendance documents.

But in October, more flu has been seen at some buildings.

Flu-related absences increased during the last week of October, but other than that it's been pretty normal at Lacomb School, Susan Newhouse said.

Pioneer is seeing 50 percent more absent this year than last, secretary Rhea Pearsall said.

"The school is not set up so kids would wash their hands," said Emily Latimer, Pioneer science teacher. "We need to build some time into the day to get the kids to wash their hands."

Some individual teachers are getting more aware and taking initiative in the classroom, she added.

"We're starting to do a better job," Latimer said.

Lebanon High School's absences have spiked slightly above average, principal Bo Yates said, going from around 8 percent closer to 13 percent.

School sports teams are seeing large absences, some worse than others, though none as bad as others in the valley.

LHS football coach Rob Allen said he had eight kids miss at least one practice last week and four or five who missed two days because of illness.

"Only two or three of the girls were not sick all year," said Gary Timms, East Linn Academy cross country coach. "We always have the cold and flu, but this year there was more. We just had a nightmare this year, just trying to hold everything together."

To help prevent the flu, Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center, Inc., the firm that does most of the custodial work in the schools, has agreed to clean and disinfect horizontal surfaces every day.

"Previously, they cleaned surfaces every day, but not disinfect them," said Larry Tilford, director of operations. "The disinfectant is because of H1N1."

Some teachers have students help use soapy water to clean desks between times, Tilford added.

Lebanon Public Library and the Boys & Girls Club of Lebanon also are taking precautions against illness, both for staff and patrons.

The Boys & Girls Club sprays a combination of bleach water on all surfaces. Extra hand sanitizers are throughout the building and staff encourages kids to wash their hands frequently.

At the library, manager Denice Lee said she has an order in for antiviral spray to help disinfect doorknobs, phones, computers and desks.

"We have signs up showing people how to cover their cough," Lee said. "We've also made little bookmarks for when people check out, showing the same information."

Lee said when someone begins to feel sick, often he or she comes to the library to get something to do, such as movies or books.

Lebanon school district nurse Tracy Olin said when Linn County gets ample amount if H1N1 vaccine, the county will come to LHS and give a free clinic. Parents will be notified when the vaccine is available and will have to sign a consent form to have children vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Olin said, "Wash your hands, cover your cough and stay home when you're sick."

As recommended by the state, children with a fever of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home from school until they've been fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of a fever-reducing medication.