Minneapolis (June 22, 2009) - Courage Center’s two camps, Camp Courage in Maple Lake and Courage North near Itasca State Park, will maintain its summer camp schedule for people with disabilities.
A recent Muscular Dystrophy camp held at Camp Courage included 10 participants (campers and MDA staff) who tested positive for H1N1 flu (also known as swine flu). The MDA camp was held June 6-12. Courage Center officials were contacted by the MDA locally three days after the end of MDA camp. None of the 10 people showed symptoms until after the camp session ended, and all 10 have recovered. The national MDA has since announced the cancellation of its camps nationwide after three camps in three states had participants come down with H1N1 flu.
Courage Center‘s camps have established protocols if campers or staff members become ill, including the H1N1 flu. Staff sanitized camp facilities after learning of the outbreak, following appropriate state and federal infection control procedures. “We are confident that our camp facilities are prepared and managed to maximize camper safety, including the threat of infectious disease,” said Tom Fogarty, director, Courage Camps. “Future camp sessions are going on as scheduled.”