Guidance for Parents for Reporting Flu to Their School

What to report to school attendance office:
If your child is sick with influenza, it’s important that you report this reason of illness to the school’s attendance clerk. Giving details such as, “My child is sick with influenza.” will better assist local Health Officials with the monitoring of an outbreak.

When to stay home:
Please avoid sending your child to school if they present the following signs & symptoms; a cough or a sore throat and if, body temperature reading measures 100 degrees or greater. Additional symptoms that often indicate influenza include malaise, muscle aches, runny nose, sore throat, chills, and headache. Please call your school and say, “My child is sick with influenza,” if your child shows the above signs and symptoms.

Why it matters:
West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) has asked school nurses to report school absenteeism due to influenza to get a clearer view of how influenza is emerging. This can help us take action to slow the spread of influenza in our region. We take influenza seriously as it can lead to serious illnesses, school and business closures, and even deaths. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports in the U.S., influenza causes more than 200,000 hospitalizations annually and about 36,000 deaths.

Next steps to follow:
Once you report influenza to your school attendance clerk, consider contacting your child’s doctor to notify the presence of influenza like symptoms.  If your student has flu-like symptoms please keep him/her home until 24 hours after the fever is gone without the use of medication.  Please avoid sending your child back to school until all of your child’s influenza symptoms have subsided or your pediatrician says it’s acceptable for your child to return to school.  With your help, our School’s will try to keep exposure here at school to a minimum.

* Remember the best way for your child to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the    virus is to: