Washington County Enterprise-Leader
SCHOOL NURSES EYE FLU ACTIVITY
FIRST WEEK BACK SLOW WITH SYMPTOMS
FARMINGTON — With kids back in school after a two-week break, officials are wondering if they will see an outbreak in flu cases in the coming weeks.
April Hardin, school nurse for Lincoln Middle School, said she saw a handful of students with flu-like symptoms the week before Christmas break.
Last week, though, it was fairly quiet at her school, she said.
“They did a thorough cleaning before the break so I hope that will deter some of it,” Hardin said. “I’m waiting to see. I’m hoping the Christmas break helped.”
Nurses from Prairie Grove and Farmington reported the same news.
Tiffany Rogers with Farmington High said she had not seen much sickness but noted teachers are being diligent to remind students to take precautions against influenza.
These precautions include washing hands, not drinking or eating after anyone else and coughing into an elbow, not the hand.
Tracy Vinson, school nurse at Williams Elementary in Farmington, pleaded with parents to keep their children at home if they have fever. She said she did not have much to report on as far as flu symptoms at her school but said a lot of students returned to class with coughs, runny noses and congestion.
Her students are encouraged to bring water bottles from home and not use the school’s water fountains.
Arkansas Department of Health issues a weekly influenza report and the report from Jan. 3 shows more than 8,000 positive flu tests have been confirmed since Sept. 28, 2014. Of these, 60 percent came from children 18 years old or younger. For the week ending Jan. 3, 1,900 tests came back positive for influenza.
The state has recorded 12 deaths from the flu since Sept. 28, according to the health department.
Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln school districts have done their part to stay ahead of flu season. All three districts conducted voluntary flu shot clinics last fall. Nurses reported that many students showed up for the clinic.
Danielle Randolph, Prairie Grove Middle School nurse, said she has not seen much evidence of flu yet at her school and not heard about many cases throughout the district.
She pointed out, however, if it is not the flu, something else always seems to be going around among students and teachers.
“It can be strep and then it’s a stomach bug and then the flu,” Randolph said. “We always seem to see a lot of stuff going around. I hope the flu stays away.”
Chantal Crosse, advanced nurse practitioner with Prairie Grove Health and Wellness Clinic, said her office has been busy with flu patients, both adults and children.
Her patients generally are coming in with muscle aches, chills and high fever, she said. Other general symptoms are headache, sore throat, cough and and a runny or stuffy nose.
Flu shots are still available at various places in the three communities and Crosse encouraged people to get a flu shot.
“The flu shot is still the best way to fight to the flu,” Crosse said. “Even if the shot is mismatched with the most prevalent strain, it still provides some protection.”
Some of the places available for a flu shot include Prairie Grove Health and Wellness Center and Lincoln Wellness Center, located at Lincoln Middle School. Flu season can run through March so Crosse said it is not too late for a flu shot.