More than 1000 students absent at San Diego County schools

SAN DIEGO – San Diego County Public Well being Providers is investigating a suspected massive outbreak of respiratory and flu-like signs reported amongst college students at Patrick Henry Excessive Faculty and Del Norte Excessive Faculty.

About 400 college students have been absent from Del Norte Excessive Faculty Wednesday and Thursday attributable to an outbreak of a flu-like sickness.

Faculty officers stated the signs have been primarily fever, cough and headache.

In line with Poway Unified spokeswoman Christine Paik, the absences started on Monday.

“What we noticed from Monday getting back from the weekend, we had 189 absences. On Tuesday and Wednesday that jumped to nearly 400,” Paik stated.

The scholars simply celebrated their return this weekend. Nonetheless, Paik stated not all sick youngsters went residence.

She stated their signs resemble these of the flu, much like the signs of scholars at Patrick Henry Excessive Faculty.

A San Diego Unified spokesperson informed CBS8 on Wednesday that greater than 1,000 Patrick Henry college students have known as in sick.

Whereas county medical doctors are nonetheless ready for take a look at outcomes to come back again, at this level they imagine most college students at each excessive faculties have the flu.

“Though that is preliminary, numerous them have already examined optimistic for influenza A. Influenza A is the toughest of the primary kinds of influenza that we face annually,” stated Dr Cameron Kaiser, San Diego County Deputy Well being Officer.

Dr Kaiser warns that flu season is hitting a lot earlier and tougher than common, saying that whereas flu season often begins in October, we do not usually see a rise in instances till the top of the month. autumn or the start of winter.

“We’ve got already reached 1,000 complete flu instances in October, 1 / 4 of all the season final 12 months. We’re seeing the flu hitting now and we’re seeing it hit sooner than common,” stated the Dr. Kaiser.

And it is not simply in San Diego.

The CDC has reported a rise in flu instances nationwide. This, after the Southern Hemisphere had its worst flu season in years, which medical doctors right here in the US are utilizing to foretell how our flu season will likely be.

Dr. Kaiser says a part of the reason being that we’re extra relaxed with COVID protocols, which have protected us from diseases apart from COVID.

“We’re sort of on this lull of COVID-19 surges and individuals are beginning to loosen up a bit and pay much less consideration to how they’re doing issues,” Dr. Kaiser stated.

At this level, no phrase on the hospitalized college students, though Dr Kaiser warns that additional outbreaks are doubtless. He urges everybody six months and older to get a flu shot.

“The primary factor for winter is that individuals must buckle up and ensure they’re protected as a result of it is most likely going to be unhealthy,” Dr Kaiser stated.

Moreover, faculty officers are reminding mother and father to take additional precautions.

In case your little one has signs, preserve them away from faculty

WATCH RELATED: Suspected Respiratory Outbreak at Patrick Henry Excessive Faculty Investigated (October 2022)

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