USD 466 Info: Stomach "bug"/"flu" or Gastroenteritis
All,
We are seeing a large number of staff and students absent due to a stomach "bug"/"flu" or gastroenteritis. This is often caused by norovirus and is highly contagious. It is spread through close contact with infected people, such as by sharing food or eating/drinking utensils, and by touching contaminated surfaces and objects. Eating contaminated food also can cause norovirus.
Although you typically feel better after a day or two, you're contagious for a few days after you recover. The virus can remain in your stool for up to two weeks or more after recovery. Students and staff must also remain home for a minimum of 24 hours after vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever stops. You should be able to tolerate normal meals before returning to school/work. Remember to stay home when you are ill and, please do not send your child to school to “see the nurse if you get worse”. If they are ill before school, keep your child home.
With the COVID threat largely behind us, at least for now locally, we all may be getting a little lax in some of our infection prevention practices, as evidenced by this sharp upturn in illnesses like this and others lately. Some of the measures that we used in prevention of COVID also prevented the spread of these illnesses. Prevention of the spread is key and includes frequent hand washing, cleaning contaminated surfaces and laundry, and not sharing food or eating/drinking utensils.
Please, help finish the year strong and healthy! There are so many fun things happening this time of year that no one wants to miss out on!
Thank you for helping keep our students and staff healthy,
Niki Depperschmidt, RN
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Niki Depperschmidt, RN
USD 466 School Nurse
Scott City, KS 67871