Flu cancels summer camp’s first session in Cleveland, Ga.

At least 45 of 160 staff members of a North Georgia summer camp have either the flu or flu-like symptoms, forcing camp leaders to cancel the first four-week session.

The arrival of 400 campers had been delayed at Camp Coleman in Cleveland, after a handful of staff initially fell ill.

But as the number of those afflicted grew, the Union for Reform Judaism camp was forced to take the drastic measure, according to Rabbi Elliott Kleinman, senior vice president of the URJ.

“With so many staff ill with the flu, we felt like we couldn’t provide the kind of safe environment kids need at camp,” Kleinman said Friday afternoon. “We take the health and safety of the children entrusted in our care very seriously.”

All staff affected are responding well to care from the camp medical staff and are expected to fully recover, according to camp leaders. Anyone ill is being isolated for seven days to limit the spread of the flu, Kleinman said.

The camp has worked with the department of health to help contain the flu, according to Dave Palmer, a spokesman for District 2 Public Health in Gainesville.

Earlier this week, six counselors sought medical care for influenza-like symptoms, although none was hospitalized, Palmer said. The rapid tests were positive for Influenza A.

The second session of camp begins July 12, and 400 campers are expected to participate.

“We’re already looking forward to it,” Kleinman said.