'Flu-like illness' lowering school attendance
By REBECCA LEFTWICHrebecca@newnan.com
Last week, Coweta Schools Superintendent Steve Barker told the Coweta County Board of Education that schools are starting to see the effects of flu season in Georgia.
This week, school officials sent letters to parents warning them to be on the lookout for signs their children might be coming down with a “flu-like illness.”
“We have no way of knowing whether it’s illness-related or otherwise given the season of the year,” Millians said of the absences. “But we do know we have had a lot of staff and students out. There are a lot of illnesses out there right now, and we’ve sent home some with flu-like symptoms.”
The parent letter requests that students with a fever or flu-like symptoms be kept home not only to reduce the risk of spreading an illness, but also to rest and recover.
To reduce the risk of getting the flu:
• Teach your children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or shirt sleeve whenever they cough or sneeze. Throw away used tissue.
• Practice good hand washing by washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and getting your children to do the same.
• Make sure your children don’t share drinking glasses or eating utensils.
• Make sure everyone gets vaccinated. There is ample supply of seasonal flu vaccine, and the vaccine is recommended for everyone older than 6 months of age. Vaccines are available through the Coweta County Health Department, located on Hospital Road near the bypass.
For more information on contagious illnesses, visit www.flu.gov .
