Lincoln School attendance hit hard by flu, strep throat

Back to back bouts of influenza and strep throat hit Lincoln School hard this month, leading to a high rate of absences in the last two weeks.

Lincoln School secretary Olivia Cameron said on average, about 40 kids were absent from school each day during the first week of the month, primarily due to influenza, which has risen sharply across the state since mid-January.

According to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, flu activity ramped up dramatically across Montana during the second week of February, with more than a thousand new cases reported statewide during the week ending Feb. 9, including 67 in Lewis and Clark County. January and February are typically considered peak flu season. Since the flu season began in December there have been three reported deaths from the flu, including one child in Missoula county.

In Lincoln, the flu epidemic was amplified by an outbreak of strep throat that hit the school at about the same time. Cameron said most of the kids who missed school last week were out with strep rather than the flu.

Lincoln school superintendent Carla Anderson said the back to back outbreaks saw 59 of the school's 154 students out sick on Monday, Feb. 11.

Reading Coach Annette Gardner, who has been teaching at Lincoln Elementary School since 1985, said she can't recall the

last time so many kids were out sick at one time, but that it's been a long time.

Although Feb. 11 marked a high point, Cameron said 48 kids were out sick Wednesday morning, with a few more who went home during the day.

Between illness and the

District Basketball Tourney that began Feb. 14 in Frenchtown, she estimated more than 70 students were out of school Thursday.

"People need to know to keep their kids home if they're sick, especially if they're still running a fever," Anderson said.

According to Montana DPHHS, people with the flu should not return to work or school until 24 hours after the fever is gone. In addition to getting vaccinated, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home if you are sick, covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing hands and disinfecting surfaces and objects are considered to be among the best ways to prevent the spread of influenza.

Anderson said she appreciated the efforts made by the Parker Medical Center staff to double book patients and get all the kids medicated during the last two weeks.