Flu at Harding Academy

Dear Families,

 

Flu season is upon us and I want to keep you informed about what we are seeing among our students at Harding Academy. During the past week we have seen a rise in the cases of the flu among both our lower and middle school students. We want to assure you that we are doing all that we can to minimize the spread of the illness here at school. Our cleaning staff is diligently cleaning hard surface areas after school each day, and while I know that teachers have been discussing with the students ways to prevent the illness from spreading, I am hoping to meet with some classes to go over prevention strategies to minimize the spread of the illness. We also have hand sanitizers strategically placed by the doors in the classrooms, and the entrance to the cafeteria, and we continue to remind students of the importance of using those. 

 

As a reminder, Harding families also have a pivotal role in keeping our community healthy.  First, it is important to know that it is not too late to get the flu vaccine. This is the best way to decrease the chances of getting the flu, and even if you or your child still get the flu, it has been shown to decrease the severity of the illness. Second, by keeping your sick child home until he or she is well, you are minimizing the spread of illness throughout the school.  Please remember that children may not come to school until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). It is important to note that the flu can remain contagious even after a fever is no longer present, so if your child is showing any signs of the flu (ex. a cough, sore throat, fatigue) please continue to keep them home until they are well enough to return to school. Please refer to the Student Health section of your Harding Academy Handbook for additional information. 

 

In regards to influenza, please keep any child with flu-like symptoms at home, even if the child tests negative for the flu.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as many as 30-50% of people who have the flu will still test negative on rapid flu testing.  The CDC website recommends that:

 

“Persons who are diagnosed with influenza by a physician, or who have a febrile respiratory illness during a period of increased influenza activity in the community, should remain at home until the fever is resolved for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medications) and the cough is resolving to avoid exposing other members of the public.”

 

For more information, please visit CDC's The Flu: A Guide for Parents

 

I appreciate your help in keeping our school community healthy.  Per the Harding Handbook, please let me know if your child is home sick with the flu or flu-like symptoms, so I may track the number of cases within the school. As an aside, it is always helpful to know if your child is home sick with Covid-19, a stomach virus, or strep throat as well. If you have any questions regarding our illness policy or illness within the school, please email me at nurse@hardingacademy.us.  

 

Sincerely,

Moira Clark, BSN, RN