Reported Ind. flu cases remain low

Flu cases have remained low in Indiana this season, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

Two weeks ago, sporadic activity of the flu hit 15 U.S. states, including Indiana.

Kim Gines, director of health services for the Monroe County Community School Corporation, said health aides at local public schools have not reported anything out of the ordinary from previous years. Most schools have had symptoms of stomachaches, vomiting and sore throats, but no confirmed flu cases, she said.

The policy for sick individuals at MCCSC schools states that students must remain home until they have been off medicine and not had a fever for 24 hours.

“So quite possibly, we are preventing illness by limiting exposure to a sick person, and it may be that more students are taking advantage of getting the flu shot,” Gines said.

This influenza season began the first week of October 2011, said Shawn Richards, an epidemiologist for the ISDH.

Flu cases usually peak in February.

The latest report for flu activity in Indiana was published Feb. 22. A statewide system for monitoring Indiana emergency rooms reported a low percentage of influenza-like illnesses for the previous week.

Alec Mayer, principal at St. Charles Catholic School in Bloomington, said more than 60 students were absent due to sickness and that 10 teachers were sick Monday through Thursday. Eighteen of the absent students had flu-like symptoms, he said.

“We were hit pretty hard,” he said. “I think we’re through it, but we got hit pretty hard.”

Like MCCSC, St. Charles also enforces an illness policy that students and teachers must be fever-free or medicated 24 hours before they can return to school.

Mayer said they have made other efforts to reduce possible bacteria in the air. Total release foggers, from a company called Saniguard, were used to sanitize rooms in the school building. Teachers were also asked to stay after school and sanitize common areas.

Jeffrey Katz, head of Bloomington Montessori School, said the school has had a normal influenza season and that kids have experienced flu-like symptoms.

Six influenza vaccine manufacturers are projecting that almost 200 million doses of the influenza vaccine will be available in the United States for the 2011-12 influenza season.

People with the flu always experience a fever, but other symptoms can include coughing, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue and nausea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that flu vaccines be taken annually and before December.