Dear Parents and Guardians,
Recently, students at Thurmont Middle School have become sick with influenza-like illness (ILI). Symptoms have included high fever, cough, runny nose, congestion, diarrhea, vomiting, and/or sore throat. Students who have become ill at school with ILI have been evaluated and sent home as appropriate. Custodial staff at Thurmont Middle School are taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including extra wiping down of doors, desks, and frequently touched surfaces.
Influenza and other viruses that can cause ILI are spread mainly by droplets made when people who are ill cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might also be infected by touching a surface or object that has virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose. Here are a few things you can do to help prevent the spread of ILI:
Remind your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
Remind your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
Get a flu vaccine. To prevent flu, everyone 6 months of age and older should be vaccinated every year.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 °F, 37.8 ° C or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may become infected.
If your child exhibits symptoms associated with influenza such as a fever (100 °F, 37.8 ° C or greater), cough, diarrhea, or vomiting, please consult your primary care physician for evaluation. Infants, toddlers, seniors and pregnant women, and people with certain underlying health conditions are at increased risk of severe illness or complications from influenza, and should consult with their primary care physician if they develop symptoms of influenza.
For more information on influenza, please contact your local health department, at 301-600-1029 or check the Maryland Department of Health website at: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/influenza/Pages/home.aspx
Sincerely,
Janine Smith, Principal
Erin Pickett, RN - School Nurse
http://education.fcps.org/tms/ 408 E. Main Street Thurmont, MD 21788 Phone: 240-236-5100 Fax: 240-236-5101