The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported during the third week of flu season (Jan. 13 to Jan. 19) flu activity remained elevated in the U.S. With flu levels high, it’s important for teachers, school staff and parents to take proper precautions when it comes to flu prevention.
The Mt. Laurel School District did not have any reports of excessive student absences, but recently bus drivers have been absent due to illness, Mt. Laurel Township School’s Director of Communication Services Marie Reynolds said.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Antoinette Rath posted a letter on the school district’s website informing parents of the extra precautions they should take during flu season.
“Currently, New Jersey is listed in the high activity category with regard to the incidence of flu. While our number of student absenteeism has not risen dramatically to date, we are cognizant of the flu’s presence and are taking seasonal precautions within our schools in terms of cleaning procedures,” Rath said in her announcement.
According to the CDC, flu activity often peaks in February, but Reynolds said so far there are no reports of students getting the flu.
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 the 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.
Mt. Laurel Schools have not run into the problem of a child being hospitalized for influenza, but the school staff members are still taking precautions to prevent the flu from striking, Reynolds said.
Influenza viruses are spread from person-to-person. With approximately 4,200 students in the district in eight schools, keeping the schools properly disinfected is important.
Reynolds said the janitorial staff disinfects common areas more often than they normally do during the flu season. PTO members also put together health kits and leave them at teachers’ classroom doors, she said, adding a few of the members “made an effort to do that with the flu going around.”
The health kits include hand sanitizer, wipes and other disinfecting products, Reynolds said.
Tips regarding necessary precautions were also a part of Rath’s letter.
She said the school district is encouraging healthy habits, such as routine hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and discarding used tissues. Parents are also asked to keep their child home from school if he or she is ill.
The school district’s policy for children returning to school after an illness is that the child should not return until they have been 24 hours free of fever, vomiting or diarrhea, Rath said in her letter.
The school district receives notifications from the CDC, and they try to keep staff and parents up-to-date.
“We are hopeful that everything we have done has gotten us through the season successfully,” Reynolds said.
The CDC has tips on how to protect children against flu. To view a full copy of the file download the PDF here.
