Until today, I figured that the biggest threat to high school sports as we know them was the state of the economy and the fact that many districts — nationwide — are having to face the harsh realities of cutting coaches and cutting back funding.

Boy was I wrong.

Around 1:30 p.m. CST, the Associated Press released an article regarding the state of Texas postponing all high school sports activities and competitions until May 11. The reason? The swine flu outbreak.

To date, only two cases of this new flu have reached Kansas. But the thing seems to be spreading fast, with reports of new outbreaks popping up across the nation every day, sometimes more than once.

In Texas, 16 confirmed cases have been reported and that prompted Gov. Rick Perry to announce a disaster declaration for the whole state.

Good move.

These things are not to be messed with, and any precautions that can be taken should. After all, any action taken before the swine flu explodes into a full-fledged epidemic seems to be sound decision-making to me.

The idea behind postponing high school sports is that it will prevent large numbers of young people from interacting each day, therein keeping the odds low that these student-athletes will spread the virus around the region. We’re in the infant stages of learning about and understanding this new disease, and because of that, we have to take every piece of information very seriously.

The high number of confirmed cases in Texas and the large population of the state make this decision sound. If Kansas, which has 14 fewer cases and far fewer people to begin with, were to proceed in such a manner, it might be considered an overreaction.

Still, local school officials are keeping their eyes and ears open and are following this development, as well as the spread of the swine flu in general, very seriously.

“Certainly our school district is looking at it, just like anybody, to make sure we’re aware of what’s out there,” Free State athletic director and assistant principal Mike Hill said. “We’re not at that level yet, but if it were to approach that level we would do whatever necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of our students.”

As always, at least when it comes to the matters that are most important, the Lawrence School District seems to be on top of things.

Good to know.