Nearly 1,000 students are sick with “flu-like symptoms” at Virginia High School
About 1,000 students at a major Virginia high school called in sick last week with “flu-like and gastrointestinal symptoms” as doctors in the US urge people across the country to get the flu shot.
Stafford Senior High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, announced on Facebook Friday that it continues to reevaluate conditions for resuming extracurricular and athletic activities.
“Due to the high number of student and staff illnesses reported this week, all Stafford High School activities and athletics scheduled through Sunday 23 October are being cancelled,” the post said.
“We will reassess the conditions on Monday and provide you with further information.”
The disease has spread to almost half of the entire school population, which was last reported in 2,009 students with a student:teacher ratio of 16:1, according to the Public School Review.
At Stafford Senior High School (pictured) in Fredericksburg, VA, about 1,000 students are suffering from flu-like symptoms
The school has been sporadic in providing information about the mysterious illness, despite the cancellation of extracurricular activities for the past week
One Facebook user was unhappy with the school for failing to mention the possibility of COVID-19 infections, while another “overheard” 950 students being sick all last week
“How can you release such a statement and not even mention the possibility of COVID-19 infection? COVID-19 can also have flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, GI issues),” a Facebook user shared under the school’s post.
“They should promote both antigen test and PCR test for COVID,” she added.
State health officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the outbreak, which is believed to have affected 950 students, as another Facebook user “overheard”.
Elsewhere in the US, public health officials announced a flu outbreak at the San Diego Unified School District’s Patrick Henry High School in California, which has 2,600 students.
“Although the county is reporting several hundred COVID-19 cases daily and is already seeing a rapid and early start to the flu season, it is too early to determine the cause of the suspected outbreak at Patrick Henry High School pending test results .” This was announced by the district office for communication.
Patrick Henry High School is another US school with a flu outbreak, as 304 lab-confirmed cases of flu were reported last week
The district said no hospitalizations have been linked to the illnesses at Patrick Henry High, but local hospitals, including Rady Children’s Hospital, have recently seen a surge in emergency room visits for the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, which usually causes mild colds. like symptoms.
“We are coordinating with local school districts and checking with other campuses to find out why so many students are being affected so suddenly,” said Dr. Deputy Health Officer Cameron Kaiser in the statement.
The county said 304 lab-confirmed influenza cases were reported last week, bringing the total for the season, which began July 3, to 1,082. At the same time last year, the county had reported just 200 influenza cases.
Doctors in the US recently advised Americans not to skip their flu shots this fall after a terrible outbreak broke out in other parts of the world, particularly Australia
Meanwhile, doctors across the US recently sent a message to vaccine-weary Americans: Don’t skip your flu shot this fall — and seniors, ask for a special, extra-strength strain.
After reaching historically low levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, the flu may be poised to make a comeback. The key clue: Australia has just ended a terrible flu season, which The Associated Press says is the worst in five years.
While there’s no way to predict whether the US will be hit that hard, “We went into flu season last year not knowing if the flu was there or not. This year we know the flu is back,” said influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Additionally, people have largely dispensed with masking and distancing precautions that helped prevent the spread of other respiratory infections early in the pandemic.
The flu is most dangerous for people aged 65 and older, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions, including heart and lung diseases.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11345897/Virginia-high-school-nearly-1-000-students-sick-flu-like-symptoms.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Nearly 1,000 students are sick with “flu-like symptoms” at Virginia High School
