Winter Illness Message from School Health

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Dear Arlington, Public Schools (APS) Families and Staff:

Influenza and Norovirus season is here. Although influenza typically causes respiratory symptoms and norovirus causes sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea, both spread easily from person to person.

In order to protect both yourself and others and reduce illness in schools, the School Health Bureau is asking that you take the following steps:

1. Have everyone in your family (adults and children) wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes. Washing hands upon arrival at school and before and after eating are particularly important as noted in the APS Wellness Policy.

2. Notify the school and either stay home (if you are staff) or keep your children home for fever of 100.4 or higher, especially along with cough or sore throat, or for any episodes of vomiting or diarrhea. Please wait until you or your child are symptom and fever free for 24 hours (without the need for medication) and feeling better before returning to school.  

It’s time to get the flu vaccine! Public Health strongly recommends that everyone age 6 months and older should receive a flu vaccine each year (with rare exceptions – click here for details).  Influenza can be a very serious illness with significant complications including pneumonia and even death in some children.  Flu vaccine can prevent serious complications of influenza. 

• To find flu vaccines near you go to https://flushot.healthmap.org/ and type in your zip code.

• The Arlington County Public Health Division also has several walk-in clinics each week. Click here for further information. The vaccine may be free or may include a co-pay (depending on insurance status).

Thank you for your attention.

Sarah N. Bell, RN, MPH                                                           Lisa G. Kaplowitz, MD, MSHA
School Health Bureau Chief                                                   Public Health Physician