CNN
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As US well being officers have gotten more and more involved in regards to the impression of this yr’s flu season, almost half the scholars at a Virginia highschool had been absent with flu-like and gastrointestinal signs this week, in keeping with the varsity district.
“There are roughly 1,000 college students absent with flu-like/gastrointestinal signs at Stafford Excessive Faculty. Our Well being Companies staff is working with the native well being division to determine the basis reason for the sickness,” Sandra Ok. Osborn, chief communications officer with Stafford County Public Faculties, stated in a press release.
Stafford Excessive Faculty, positioned in northern Virginia within the metropolis of Fredericksburg, has an approximate enrollment of two,100 college students, Osborn stated.
Faculty actions scheduled by way of the weekend have been postponed, in keeping with a message on the Stafford Excessive Faculty web site.
“As a result of excessive variety of pupil and employees sicknesses reported this week, all Stafford Excessive Faculty actions and athletics scheduled by way of Sunday, October 23, are canceled. We are going to reassess circumstances on Monday and give you additional info,” the message learn.
CNN has reached out to Stafford County Public Faculties and the county well being division for additional info.
An early enhance in seasonal flu exercise has been reported in a lot of the US, with the nation’s southeast and south-central areas reporting the very best ranges of flu as of final week, in keeping with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Faculty districts elsewhere within the US have additionally reported an uptick in flu-like signs amongst college students. No less than two excessive faculties within the San Diego Unified Faculty District had excessive charges of absences final week, with one college recording about 1,000 absences out of two,600 college students, a faculty spokesperson advised CNN.
Flu exercise within the US usually begins to extend in October and often peaks between December and February.