The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported the third week of flu season (Jan. 13 to Jan. 19) flu activity remained elevated in the U.S. With flu levels elevated, it’s important for teachers, school staff and parents to take proper precautions when it comes to flu prevention.
According to the CDC, flu activity often peaks in February.
The Voorhees School District continues to encourage hygiene to prevent the virus from spreading in the schools.
Signal Hill school nurse Marcy Lawrence said the nurses treat the flu like any other illness, disinfecting surfaces and promoting hygienic practices.
“We ask the student’s parents to be diligent in keeping their child home,” Lawrence said, adding if the child shows signs of fever, vomiting or another communicable illness, parents are asked to keep their child home to prevent spreading the flu to others.
According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigues and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Some people who have the flu may not have a fever.
Lawrence said she continually disinfects surfaces such as doorknobs, handles and any other surfaces that can be easily contaminated in the nurse’s office.
She said Signal Hill has seen a slightly higher number of illnesses this month than any other, but it is a normal number for this time of year.
“We have been seeing stomach viruses, strep and upper respiratory problems but things that don’t linger as long as the flu would linger,” she said, adding no illnesses from the flu have been documented.
Virtua’s Director of Media Relations, Peggy Leone, said the hospital has seen an increase of activity, mostly with patients who have flu-like symptoms.
“Virtua is seeing increased activity and significant volumes in all of our emergency departments and our Virtua express locations (outpatient immediate care centers) — mostly due to flu-like symptoms. Volume is higher than in the past few years,” Leone said in an email.
According to Leone, Virtua is seeing patients in all different age groups.
“People with the flu may be able to infect others by spreading virus from one day before getting sick to five to seven days after. However, children and people with weakened immune systems can spread viruses longer, and might be still contagious past five to seven days of being sick, especially if they still have symptoms,” the CDC reports.
Influenza viruses are spread from person-to-person.
With approximately 2,600 students and five schools in the district, keeping the schools properly disinfected is important.
Lawrence recommends parents, students and teachers continue to practice good hygiene — constantly washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes as well as discarding any used tissues.
“If you can use soap and water, you should always go to that before hand sanitizer,” she said.
The CDC has tips on how to protect children against flu. To view a full copy of the file download the PDF here.
