Flu-Type Illnesses Playing Havoc with School Attendance

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Hamburg Superintendent of Schools Keith Alexander said about 9 a.m. Monday, January 29, that a first count showed 171 students out of school. That is about nine percent of the student body. In addition, the district had 16 teachers out ill on Monday morning.



A breakdown indicated that 29 pre-k students were ill, 33 high school students, 19 junior high students, 30 at Allbritton Elementary, 13 at Wilmot Elementary, 15 at Portland Elementary and 32 at Noble Elementary. Teachers out ill included six at Allbritton Elementary, two at the junior high, three at the high school, three at Noble Elementary and one each at Portland and Wilmot.



The number of students absent on Monday was above the level absent on Friday, the Hamburg superintendent said.



A second check at noon on Monday showed that the number of Hamburg students out sick had risen by 15 to 186. Nine of those who had gone home Monday morning were at the high school, with two each in the pre-k, Allbritton and Wilmot schools. That higher number is almost ten percent of the entire district enrolment.



While reluctant to provide any exact numbers, the Hamburg superintendent said that if the absentee rate rises much above ten percent, the district will have to do something. He said that if there are significant increases in illness, then the district may look at dismissing school. "I don't see us looking at one building and all the others going to school," he said. "If somebody can't go, we all can't go." He also noted that sick teachers may pose just as big or possibly a bigger problem than sick students.



Crossett School District



There were 175 students out of school Monday in the Crossett School District and 22 teachers, according to Norman Hill, district financial manager. On Friday, the Crossett School District had a total of 147 students absent.



Friday at North Crossett Primary there were three teachers and 31 students out sick. Monday, there were four teachers and 40 students out.



Anderson Elementary reported two teachers and 39 students out Friday. There were four teachers and 42 students out on Monday.



At Daniel Intermediate School, four teachers missed work Friday and seven were out Monday. Twenty-one students were out sick Friday and 29 were out Monday.



Nine teachers missed school at Norman Junior High Friday and only six were out Monday. Twenty-nine students were out Friday and 38 were out Monday.



Four Crossett High School teachers missed work Friday and only one was reported out Monday. Twenty-seven students missed school Friday and 26 were out Monday.



Both the Monticello and Drew Central school districts dismissed classes on Friday, January 26, after significant absences on the previous day. Monticello Superintendent of Schools Bobby Harper said Monday that school was back in session in his district and the number of students absent was down from the twelve to thirteen percent absent Thursday. In the elementary schools, he said, there were 140 absent on Thursday, but that number had dropped to 89 on Monday, though he expected that number might rise during the day.



"It is coming back down," he said, adding that the district still had a total of 268 students absent on Monday. The district has a total of 2,102 students



While the schools were out on Friday, the Monticello custodial staff worked to try to disinfect areas where the disease might spread. Harper said that the custodial staff worked all day to wipe down and disinfect desks, tables, the cafeteria, bathrooms, the library and other areas where students are found.



Shots Stressed



The Arkansas Department of Health reported this past week that flu activity is rising in the state and is continuing to emphasize flu shots. The flu season in Arkansas usually runs from mid-December to March. The flu shot costs $15 for anyone not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, or the Vaccines for Children Program (the shot is free for enrollees).



Dr. Paul Halverson, DOH director, said, "We would encourage all Arkansans to get a flu shot this year. Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. The single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated—either by the flu shot or by nasal spray."



Flu vaccines are safe, effective and cannot cause the flu. Each year, 25 to 50 million people in the U.S. are infected with annual flu. Roughly 36,000 Americans die from complications of the flu; another 200,000 are hospitalized. The flu is serious business—translating into employee absences, lost productivity and bottom-line losses. Healthy workers who have been vaccinated have 43 percent fewer sick days than unvaccinated workers.



Those most at risk for influenza disease complications are those in nursing homes; individuals over 50 years of age; persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, and kidneys, or who have diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia; women who will be pregnant during flu season; children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy.



Children 6-59 months of age, their family members and their out-of-home care givers should receive the flu vaccine due to the increased probability of severe illness in this age group. Daycare situations make these children especially vulnerable.



Health care workers should also be vaccinated for influenza since they are at risk for passing influenza infection on to high-risk individuals. Once a person is vaccinated, it takes the body about two weeks to make protective antibodies.



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