The country is on track to have one of its worst flu seasons in years, with high rates of hospitalizations for influenza and doctors reporting higher-than-usual numbers of patients with flu-like symptoms, federal officials say.
That won’t be a surprise for many school administrators, who’ve seen soaring absences as the spread of the virus intensified. Some have even opted to close entire schools and districts to slow transmission and clean buildings.
Prevention is crucial to slowing the spread of the flu. In its guidance to schools, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends they use educational posters and social-media campaigns to urge proper hand washing; encourage students, teachers, and staff to stay home for 24 hours after they quit showing signs of a fever; consider relaxing rules for things like perfect-attendance awards that may discourage ill students from staying home; teach students how to cover their mouths when they cough; and follow federal guidance for disinfecting and cleaning buildings to slow the spread of illness.
