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Number of local flu cases increase

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The number of recently confirmed cases of influenza have increased at both of the two health clinics in Albany, reflecting a trend seen across Texas and the nation.

Flu-like symptoms have affected so many local students that the junior high girls’ B team game was cancelled on Monday evening and both JV basketball games at Roscoe were cancelled on Tuesday.

“We are seeing quite a bit of flu (at the county health clinic),” said Shackelford County Hospital District Administrator Jera Fairley. “The number of cases seems to be increasing.”

Nearby, workers at the ResourceCare Community Health Center began seeing confirmed cases of the flu last week, according to registered nurse Holly Martin.

“We started diagnosing some flu last week, with two positive cases,” said Martin. “Neither one of those clients had been vaccinated with the flu shot.”

Providers at both clinics are prescribing Tamiflu for those who test positive for the flu, but only if the patient has been sick less than 48 hours.

As of Tuesday afternoon, school nurse Lisa Russell said that there had been six confirmed cases of flu reported among Nancy Smith Elementary School students, and 17 at the secondary campus.

“Flu season is officially here with an increase in illnesses and confirmed flu cases seen this week at school, especially at the AJSH campus,” Russell said. “While it has been a very mild flu season for us at AISD so far, the cases will more than likely increase during the next month or so. But there is no need to panic.”

Russell said that AISD monitors flu cases and daily attendance rates, but only counts flu cases that are actually confirmed by testing, not just those with flu-like symptoms.

“Our excellent janitors are constantly disinfecting surfaces,” she said, emphasizing that parents should not pull healthy children out of school.

However, children should not come to school within 24 hours of running a 100° fever, or if they have vomiting or diarrhea (three times within 24 hours).

Russell added that parents who are unsure if their child is running a fever can bring the student to her office at the elementary school to have their temperature checked before the child goes to class.

“That way, if the child is running a fever we can send them back home before they expose all of their classmates,” Russell said. “Flu is contagious one to four days before symptoms appear, so parents should encourage frequent hand washing and monitor symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, aches, chills, fever, or vomiting.”

Parents with questions can call Russell at 325-762-3384.

Clinic Suggestions

Martin at ResourceCare said that symptoms of flu, including fever, headache, and body aches, can come on fairly rapidly, and fever might be high or just slightly elevated.

“When you call for an appointment, let us know if you think you might have the flu so we can get you in quickly,” Martin said. 

She also suggested taking vitamin C, drinking plenty of fluids, practicing frequent hand washing, and getting adequate sleep.