Flu outbreak strikes Perkins County schools

GRANT -- Perkins County Schools has reported an extremely high absenteeism due to influenza in their school system in Grant, according to the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department.

Thirty six out of 117 students were absent Monday, because of diagnosed influenza or influenza-like symptoms.

Influenza or flu is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. Those infected with the flu virus, will usually feel symptoms one to four days after being infected. Infected individuals can spread the flu to others before they have symptoms and for another three or four days after their symptoms disappear.

Because influenza or flu is easily spread from person-to-person, social gatherings or events are not recommended. During this time, persons with flu should stay away from other people and groups as much as possible to limit the spread of the virus.

Symptoms of the flu may start very quickly and may include; body aches, chills, dry cough, fever, headache, sore throat and stuffy nose.

Typically the fever begins to decline on the second or third day of illness.

The flu almost never causes symptoms in the stomach and intestines. That illness is not influenza.

Persons who are ill should stay home until four or five days after symptoms start.

It is recommended that you consult your primary care physician or your local clinic if you have symptoms.

Your health care provider may prescribe an antiviral medicine.

Antivirals may reduce the length of time fever and other symptoms last and allow you to feel better faster. To work well antivirals must be taken within 48 hours after the flu begins. If your family has been affected by the flu and you plan to visit your local health provider, please let them know in advance that you are having flu-like symptoms to reduce the transmission to other patients.

Here are some tips for helping those who are sick with the flu:

* Drink a lot of liquids (juice, water)

* Keep the sick person as comfortable as possible. Rest is important.

* For fever, sore throat and muscle aches, use ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not use aspirin with children or teenagers; it can cause Reye's syndrome, a life- threatening illness.

* Keep tissues and a trash bag within reach of the sick person. Instruct them not to cough into their hand; coughing should be done into a sleeve or other article of clothing.

* Wash hands frequently.

* Keep the people who are sick with the flu away from the people who are not sick.

The flu can be a serious illness with approximately 200,000 individuals hospitalized and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year.

It is not too late to get flu vaccine. In the health district area, we are noting that those who had flu vaccine are not becoming ill.

Contact your health provider for information about obtaining flu vaccine or contact Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department at (308) 345-4223.