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The Mississippi State Department of Health reported widespread flu in the state this week. Although this is not a surprise for this time of year, the state is currently experiencing the highest reported influenza activity this season. In addition, some schools across the state have been affected by increased absences due to influenza.
School-aged children are often a group with a high rate of influenza infection; in Mississippi, most influenza-like cases are in people under 24 years of age. Although we are not in the middle of the influenza season, it is not too late to get vaccinated, according to MSDH officials. Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of influenza infection and the best way to reduce the risk of complications related to the flu.
The Department of Health has several recommendations to help control the spread of influenza in schools and among the general public. Below is a summary of activities that schools can undertake to prevent the spread of influenza.
• Encourage students, parents, and staff to get vaccinated every year – teach students, parents, and staff that the best way to protect yourself from the flu is to be vaccinated every flu season.
• Stay at home when you're sick: Students and staff with flu-like illness must stay home until the end of fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications . They must stay home even if they use antiviral drugs.
• Separate sick students and staff: Students and staff who appear to have a flu-like illness should be sent to a room separate from the others until they can be sent home. The CDC recommends that they wear a surgical mask, if possible, and that those who care for sick students and staff wear protective gear such as a mask.
• Hand Hygiene: The CDC recommends encouraging students and staff to wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Respiratory Label: The CDC recommends covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or with a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available) and discarding the tissue. the bin after use.
• Routine cleaning: School staff should regularly clean areas that students and staff often touch with the cleaning products they usually use. Special cleaning and disinfection processes, such as cleaning walls and ceilings, are neither necessary nor recommended.
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