Organization being vigilant, proactiveWhile the uncertainties surrounding the outbreak of a new strain of the H1N1 flu virus, or swine flu, have prompted high school athletic association officials in Texas, Alabama and New Mexico to postpone or cancel athletic events on a statewide level, the Wyoming High School Activities Association has no intention to follow suit at this time. “We're trying to be as proactive as possible,” said WHSAA commissioner Ron Laird. “Obviously, you can't plan for every contingency, but we have been in touch with the state Department of Health to keep apprised of what's going on within the state.”As of Wednesday morning, no cases of the H1N1 flu virus had been reported within the state of Wyoming. A similar clean bill of health didn't prevent Alabama's high school athletics governing body from declaring a one week moratorium on competition in that state.“We have a sports-medicine advisory council that's composed of health and medical professionals that we use as a sounding board,” said Laird. “We've made contact with the State Department of Education to keep informed on what's going on within schools in the state and I've spoken with our Board of Directors.”Only if schools in the state began to be shut down by the virus would WHSAA look at the possibility of postponing activities on a state-wide level, Laird said. “If it were to begin disrupting schools in the state, then we'd have to consider whether to do something like that,” said Laird. “But the Center for Disease Control issued a statement yesterday saying there isn't a need to close schools and with no cases reported in the state, we're just trying to stay proactive and as up-to-date on the situation as we can.”

Organization being vigilant, proactive

While the uncertainties surrounding the outbreak of a new strain of the H1N1 flu virus, or swine flu, have prompted high school athletic association officials in Texas, Alabama and New Mexico to postpone or cancel athletic events on a statewide level, the Wyoming High School Activities Association has no intention to follow suit at this time.

“We're trying to be as proactive as possible,” said WHSAA commissioner Ron Laird. “Obviously, you can't plan for every contingency, but we have been in touch with the state Department of Health to keep apprised of what's going on within the state.”

As of Wednesday morning, no cases of the H1N1 flu virus had been reported within the state of Wyoming. A similar clean bill of health didn't prevent Alabama's high school athletics governing body from declaring a one week moratorium on competition in that state.

“We have a sports-medicine advisory council that's composed of health and medical professionals that we use as a sounding board,” said Laird. “We've made contact with the State Department of Education to keep informed on what's going on within schools in the state and I've spoken with our Board of Directors.”

Only if schools in the state began to be shut down by the virus would WHSAA look at the possibility of postponing activities on a state-wide level, Laird said.

“If it were to begin disrupting schools in the state, then we'd have to consider whether to do something like that,” said Laird. “But the Center for Disease Control issued a statement yesterday saying there isn't a need to close schools and with no cases reported in the state, we're just trying to stay proactive and as up-to-date on the situation as we can.”