February 5, 2025
Recently, we have seen a rise in the number of students absent with flu-like symptoms in many of the surrounding schools. It is very easy for staff and students to be susceptible to viruses. We must try to provide a healthy environment for all students and staff members in the school.
As a reminder, the district has a Viking School-Based Health Center located at the Viking Village, 150 Viking Way. Please be aware that parents can complete a consent form to allow students who may or may not have a primary physician to be seen by the nurse practitioner if needed.
Principals are taking time to remind students of the importance of hand washing and that they should not attend school if they have severe cold symptoms, upper respiratory infection, a persistent cough, or other symptoms that would interfere with effective school participation. Listed below is information to assist in creating a climate of health and wellness for staff and students.
It is important to know the difference between influenza, cold, and norovirus symptoms. All three are extremely contagious. Influenza and cold viruses are spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Norovirus is spread by touching surfaces or objects and eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with the virus.
Common symptoms of influenza flu include fever, headache, muscle and body aches, chills, sore throat, exhaustion, and dry cough. Children may also have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Cold symptoms often come on gradually, and they include stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and hacking cough.
Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), and infected persons can feel extremely ill with diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain/cramping and may also experience headache and fever.
Steps to keep your child healthy:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to prevent influenza infection is to get a flu vaccine. There is no vaccine available for norovirus.
Talk to your child about practicing good health habits:
Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can also be used if soap and water is not available.
Cover mouth and nose into the inside of the elbow or with a tissue when sneezing or coughing and dispose of the tissue immediately into the trash.
Avoid touching the “T zone”- eyes, nose and mouth.
Avoid sharing drinks, water bottles, eating utensils and cell phones.
Prevent spreading illness to others:
Keep your sick child home from school until he/she has been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). It is important for your ill child to get rest and drink plenty of fluids.
At home, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, toys, and commonly shared items.
Wash contaminated clothing or linen immediately with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dry.
Go to www.cdc.gov for more information, or contact your school nurse or health aide if you have further questions.