MOULTRIE — During the second week of classes, all of the county’s public schools, with the exception of Doerun Elementary, sent students home with flu-like symptoms.
The Colquitt County School System, which started the school year later than nearby systems, also knows it likely will continue to see flu cases.
“There’s flu in all the schools,” said Suzanne Sumner, school nurse coordinator. “There’s no doubt about that. That was expected. We expect more to come.”
Last week, the second full week of classes, the number of students sent home with flu-like symptoms ranged from 135 at Cox Elementary to zero at Doerun, Sumner said. At other schools the numbers were: 27 at Stringfellow, seven at Sunset, 28 at Okapilco, 14 at Odom, 49 at Hamilton, 18 at Norman Park, 15 at R.B. Wright, nine at Funston, 64 at Willie J. Williams, 50 at Charlie A. Gray and 18 at Colquitt County High.
Among the system’s roughly 650 teachers the number out sick through the week was the highest on Friday when 21 were out. On Monday, 17 teachers were home sick, on Tuesday there were 20 and on Wednesday 13. On Thursday 19 were out sick.
To protect students and school personnel, schools are isolating all students exhibiting flu-like symptoms until parents pick them up. Students are instructed not to return to school until they have gone 24 hours without a temperature without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Despite the number of students sent home, Sumner said schools are maintaining respectable attendance numbers. The two schools that have had the largest number of sickened children, Cox and Hamilton, as of Thursday had 94.5 percent and 92.4 percent attendance, respectively through the week.
That includes not only students sent home with possible flu but those sickened with common ailments like bronchitis, strep throat and allergies, Sumner said.
At the systems larger schools, 80 students out of Gray’s 1,243 were absent on Thursday and 101 of Willie J. Williams’ 1,291 enrolled students were out, Sumner said.
“That’s not to say they were all sick or had the flu,” she said.
So far, she said, parents have not grumbled about having to pick up children exhibiting flu symptoms.
And soo far the system is looking to be cautions.
“Even kids with low-grade temperatures, like 99.5, we’re sending them home because they do not necessarily have to run a high fever to have flu,” Sumner said. State health officials have endorsed that because “a low fever and flu-like symptoms could be the early stages of the flu.
“We really need them (parents) to understand and cooperate and keep them home as they’re instructed.”
So far health officials are not recommending the closing of schools.
Sumner said that she is keeping abreast of information from health officials and consulting regularly with Schools Superintendent Leonard McCoy.
“We’re going to continue to stay in contact with District Health and follow their recommendations,” she said. “We’re looking at this every day.”
The school system has 14 nurses, Sumner said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people staying at home sick consult their physician if they are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma or emphysema, and also on whether to take antiviral medications. The agency also recommends staying away from others as much as possible, resting, and drinking clear fluids such as water, broth or sports drinks to prevent dehydration.
It also recommends those who are sickened with flu wear face masks, particularly if they are around family members who are at risk for complications from influenza.
