Winter Illnesses: What You Need to Know

Winter illness season is here. Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are some of the illnesses to be aware of this season. To protect yourself and others, please keep your child home and notify the school clinic if they are sick. The School Health Bureau asks that you please read the following to help identify and prevent the spread of winter illness: 

Facts About the Flu

The Flu is a contagious illness caused by different types of influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, including pregnancy, asthma, lung and heart conditions, weakened immune systems, and others, are at high risk for serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

How it Spreads:  Influenza and similar viruses are spread by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Less often, a person might get the flu by touching an object that has the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, eyes, or nose. Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses may also spread the flu.

Symptoms: The most common symptoms of flu are fever or feverish/chills and either a new cough or sore throat. Fatigue, muscle soreness, headaches, and runny/stuffy nose may also occur. Some people – especially children – may also have vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms can also present in someone with COVID-19.

Preventive Medication: If you or your child fall into one of the high-risk categories above and have been exposed to someone with influenza, please discuss with a medical provider whether taking anti-viral medication before the illness develops is appropriate.

Facts about COVID-19

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. It can be very contagious and spreads quickly. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.  Some people are more likely than others to get very sick if they get COVID-19. This includes older people, are immunocompromised, have certain disabilities, or have underlying health conditions. 

How it Spreads: COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouths. COVID-19 is most commonly spread by coughing, sneezing, and close contact with an infected individual. Less often, a person might also get infected by touching an object that has been contaminated by someone else and then touching their mouth, eyes or nose. Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses with an infected individual may also lead to illness. Avoid transfer or contact with saliva (i.e. through kissing or sharing respiratory secretions directly or through contact with objects like food utensils, cups, soda cans, and bottles of water).

Symptoms: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever or chills, a new cough, sore throat shortness of breath, and new loss of taste or smell. Fatigue, muscle soreness, headaches, and runny/stuffy nose also may occur. Some people, especially children, may also have vomiting and diarrhea.    

If Symptoms of Flu or COVID-19 Develop

1. Please stay at home or keep your child at home if they show signs of illness the night before or the morning of school and notify their school’s attendance. Students may not return to school until fever-free and/or vomiting/diarrhea-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, other symptoms improving, and well enough to participate in school activities.
2. Students experiencing COVID-like illness are strongly recommended to test for COVID-19 before returning to school but are no longer required to submit documentation of a negative test result for clearance.
3. If the COVID test result is positive, families are encouraged to follow the APS COVID procedures found here.
4. Contact a healthcare provider for guidance and/or evaluation. Provide them with a copy of this letter. Ask the provider about the benefits of taking antiviral medication which can reduce the severity of the disease. It is very important to start this medication as soon as possible after symptoms begin (within 48 hours is most effective).

Remember

Covering coughs or sneezes; and washing hands regularly and thoroughly are very important to help prevent both catching and spreading the flu and other respiratory viruses. It’s not too late for vaccination against the flu or COVID! For the flu vaccine: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older should receive a flu vaccine each year.

• Find flu vaccines near you by typing in a ZIP code and selecting a vaccine option.
• The Arlington County Public Health Division also has vaccine clinics each week. Click here for more information about appointment times, locations, and costs.

 For the COVID vaccine:

• Find COVID-19 vaccines near you by typing in your ZIP code and selecting a vaccine option.

More Information

Find more information on influenza, COVID, and RSV from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sincerely,

Sarah N. Bell, RN, MPH
School Health Bureau Chief