Is the flu in your school?

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Hey fellow school nurses,

Just curious if students/teachers have been diagnosed with the flu and how you've handled it with other parents/staff. I've had a bunch of kids whose parents have diagnosed them with the flu :banghead: but that's not exactly the same thing :no:!

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
We would shut down for that. Contact your DOH.

I have, they are keeping in contact with me. I agree, but most absences are strep ~10. We are only 125 students, so percentages are skewed. They want me to total vaccinated students and confirmed flu cases.

Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

It has hit my school hard in the past week. We track both confirmed flu cases and students that we send home with flu symptoms for the county. For the first time this year, parents have been emailing teachers and our registrar to advise of flu diagnoses, and I am at 36 since Friday for my school of 1050 9th-graders. There is no telling how many more are at school sick, or are home and their parents haven't called in.

Specializes in School Nursing.

We report Influenza Like Illness to our state department of health when we reach the threshold requirements. We aren't required to report lab confirmed influenza just ILI. We reported our 4th school yesterday. We also have a bad GI bug going around right now which I just reported to our county public health nurses today.

Our health office nurses and teachers have been encouraged to send out a letter reminding kids and parents about covering your cough, washing your hands thoroughly and frequently and staying home if you are sick.

It has hit my campus about 2 weeks ago - went from 5-8 diagnosed cases for the week to 50+ in a week. Now the teachers/staff are being hit hard- today is my first day back since being out since last friday - Flu A is not fun :( We have several teachers out and not enough subs - classes are split and our ancillary staff members - aides, secretaries etc are being asked to help out with some of the classes.

We also help track the illness - the district has info posted on the main website and pretty much all of the campus' have sent out reminder emails/notes to parents about the flu and when to keep kids home.

A handful of cases here at my school in MA. BUT my family (and I) are flying to Turks and Caicos in two weeks for February Break and I have to say I am definitely nervous about what we will pick up on that flight. I am usually very laid back about that kind of stuff but this time it just feels different. There is also a terrible stomach bug going around so hoping we don;t pick that up.

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Interesting collecting numbers, we have 7 confirmed flu cases, we only have 9 vaccinated out of 45 responses so far. Of staff students, my 2 and only 1 other out of 20 are vaccinated. My only vaccinated flu positive case only presented with malaise, no fever, no cough.

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
Interesting collecting numbers, we have 7 confirmed flu cases, we only have 9 vaccinated out of 45 responses so far. Of staff students, my 2 and only 1 other out of 20 are vaccinated. My only vaccinated flu positive case only presented with malaise, no fever, no cough.

The data nerd in me bows to the data nerd in you. That's so interesting!!

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I spoke too soon and didn't knock on wood hard enough. Got a positive Influenza B in my school. D:

Our sister school is closed today for a deep cleaning (gastroenteritis outbreak). A news outlet reported that its a flu outbreak. It's not. I talked with the school nurse. Our school put out a statement that we are open. We have a furious parent questioning why we aren't doing more. We have a normal number of absences with no pattern of illness. And of course the kids got wind of this, and I have a lot of "my stomach hurts and I'm really worried."Statements going out. Eyes being rolled. So ready for the end of the school day.

We started late with the flu hysteria, however, January 29th I saw 89 students and sent home 16 kids with T. 100-103.5. Today I sent home 11 with fevers and a few that was dx with flu and was sent to school because the poor parents couldn't take off. The teachers are the worst,if a student blinks they are sent to my clinic.

Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I knew it was a matter of time. Friday I was made aware of the 1st flu case in our district (I am friends with the mom on FB), and Monday was the first positive case at my school. Monday night, at show choir practice, I heard some students weren't there because of the "flu", not sure if those are actual positive cases though. I've been watching our daily attendance though, and numbers have been fairly consistent with the rest of the school year (no huge increase).

Thanks for all the input. It's here in my school and growing. Already clusters in certain rooms. Poor kiddos!

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