Fayette County School System officials during the last week of school before the Christmas break reported more than 200 cases of influenza in Fayette schools, about 1 percent of the total number of students in the system. Of those, 96 confirmed cases occurred at Starr’s Mill High School with another 44 at nearby Peeples Elementary School.
School Health Services Coordinator Debbie King on Dec. 17 reported a total of 221 diagnosed cases of flu across the school system. King noted that only diagnosed cases are included in the total and there were likely additional cases that were not reported.
Starr’s Mills High with 96 reported cases was hit the hardest with the flu. King said only two teachers were absent on Dec. 17.
Peeples Elementary, also at the Starr’s Mill school complex on Peachtree City’s south side, had 44 diagnosed cases as of Dec. 17, though Rising Starr had only six cases, according to school system records.
The schools with the next highest absences from flu were also in Peachtree City. McIntosh High School had 17 students absent on Dec. 17 while Oak Grove Elementary had 10 students absent with the flu. Braelinn Elementary, also on the city’s south side, had nine absences.
A number of other schools around the county had diagnosed cases, though those schools had as few as one and as many as six students absent.
It was not currently known which strain of the flu was infecting students.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a number of measures to stop the spread of germs. Those include:
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
CDC also advises getting a flu vaccine and taking antiviral drugs if prescribed by a physician.
