2008 Woodie Awards
Flu Knocks Out Students, Reduce Class Attendance
Courtney Hudson: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
Cold and flu season is in full swing. Cold weather and holiday season traveling have tended to exaggerate this season.
Judy Schache, a registered nurse at Johnson County Community Health Services, explained that flu season is at its peak.
"Second semester--after people travel and come back to the community--they bring back all kinds of things. We tend to see the cases begin and spread into our local jurisdiction," Schache said.
Indeed, the high number of flu cases at the University of Central Missouri during the past two weeks prompted Provost George Wilson to advise faculty and students Friday that if they had the flu to stay home until they get well, for their sake-- and to limit the exposure of others.
Michelle Hendricks, director of University Health Services, said the center was no longer storing the flu vaccine, but would try to get it if a student's doctor recommended it.
"The trouble with getting it this late [in the season] is that [the body] takes four to six weeks to build up an effective level of immunity," Hendricks said. Which is about the same time this flu season will be winding down."
Knob Noster schools have had
about 50 students and faculty out with the flu, district nurse Lisa Jordan told the digitalBurg Monday.
In sharp contrast, the Warrensburg school district has only had seven reported cases of flu in the past week, and six of those were at the high school.
"We have been working really hard to encourage hand washing, and have placed hand sanitizers in many of the classrooms," Patty White, school district nurse, told the digitalBurg.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said the illness is "an infection of the respiratory tract, caused by the influenza virus." Many people in the Johnson County community may have experienced the flu before or know someone who may be dealing with it now.
According to the Johnson County Community Health Services, typically February has the highest number of reported cases of the flu, even though flu season can range anywhere from late December through March.
Judy Schache, a registered nurse at Johnson County Community Health Services, explained that flu season is at its peak.
"Second semester--after people travel and come back to the community--they bring back all kinds of things. We tend to see the cases begin and spread into our local jurisdiction," Schache said.
Indeed, the high number of flu cases at the University of Central Missouri during the past two weeks prompted Provost George Wilson to advise faculty and students Friday that if they had the flu to stay home until they get well, for their sake-- and to limit the exposure of others.
Michelle Hendricks, director of University Health Services, said the center was no longer storing the flu vaccine, but would try to get it if a student's doctor recommended it.
"The trouble with getting it this late [in the season] is that [the body] takes four to six weeks to build up an effective level of immunity," Hendricks said. Which is about the same time this flu season will be winding down."
Knob Noster schools have had
about 50 students and faculty out with the flu, district nurse Lisa Jordan told the digitalBurg Monday.
In sharp contrast, the Warrensburg school district has only had seven reported cases of flu in the past week, and six of those were at the high school.
"We have been working really hard to encourage hand washing, and have placed hand sanitizers in many of the classrooms," Patty White, school district nurse, told the digitalBurg.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said the illness is "an infection of the respiratory tract, caused by the influenza virus." Many people in the Johnson County community may have experienced the flu before or know someone who may be dealing with it now.
According to the Johnson County Community Health Services, typically February has the highest number of reported cases of the flu, even though flu season can range anywhere from late December through March.
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