Schools across the US are closing temporarily due to a surge in influenza and other seasonal illnesses. The closures, reminiscent of the COVID-19 lockdown era, are primarily attributed to the high number of sick students and staff. While most closures are short-lived, lasting only a few days, the situation highlights the severity of this year's flu season.
Schools around the U.S. are closing due to surges of flu and other illnesses which are sickening students and staff. Here's what parents need to know.Schools across the United States are closing due to spikes in influenza and other seasonal illnesses. As the 2024–2025 flu season rages on with no peak yet in sight, some school systems are overwhelmed with sick students and staff.
"We're having a very sustained, moderately severe flu season and seeing lots of hospitalizations. The numbers haven't gone down, so we're still in the middle of it," Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com. “Schools close also because the adults in the school system are affected and need to take time off, so they can’t run the school,” he adds. Many schools are taking the closures as an opportunity to deep-clean facilities.
“Our custodians .... are all working at various campuses, doing deep cleaning and sanitizing,” Meador said. "Flu positive specimens reported to public health continue to increase across all regions," a spokesperson with the Texas Department of State Health Services tells TODAY.com in a statement."For pediatrics, we continue to see high influenza activity. For the 2024-2025 season, we currently have 4 confirmed influenza-associated pediatric fatalities."“Right now, if you come in here and you’re getting tested for influenza ...
At least three school districts in central Tennessee were closed the first week of February due to widespread illness, "Not only are the children getting sick, but the teachers, the administrators, the custodians and whoever is working in the school system gets ill," says Schaffner.Polk School District in Georgia closed all schools and facilities last Friday and Monday due to a surge of flu and norovirus, which sickened 761 students, .
FLU School Closures ILLNESS RESPIRATORY ILLNESS COVID-19
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