It’s that time of year when we start to see seasonal illnesses appear in our schools.
We know that students need to be in school to be learning, and that we need to keep our teachers and staff healthy in order to be able to be able to deliver a high level of instruction. Whether you work in a school or Central Office or the Transportation Facility, the message is to be extra attentive to make sure we are all working together to stay healthy this fall.
The flu season is particularly early this year, so make sure you are getting your flu shots early too.
Flu is not the only seasonal illness out there though. Many viruses and some bacteria can cause stomach illness or gastroenteritis. One of these is a virus called Norovirus. Actions to prevent additional people from catching this are necessary because there is no medicine or treatment to shorten the illness. It is usually highly contagious through contact with an infected person, or through contact with contaminated food or objects. The good news is that hand washing and disinfecting surfaces regularly can prevent you catching the virus. Symptoms also usually get better in a few days.
Washing your hands carefully for 20 seconds in warm water can have a big impact on preventing illness. If you are in a school, remember to remind others to wash their hands extra well in the next few weeks too.
ACPS offers free flu shots in the fall, and we will let you know as soon as these are scheduled. Don’t miss out on getting yours and help us all stay healthy!