Now that Massachusetts has increased the Flu severity from Moderate to High this week, here are some helpful tips to keep you Healthy and what to watch out for.

As always, please keep your child HOME if they have a Fever of 100 degrees or higher.  Children must remain home until they are fever FREE for at least 24 hours WITHOUT the use of medicine.  Keeping children healthy while in school is our goal. 

Preventing the Flu:

1. Get Vaccinated!  While there are many different flu viruses, flu vaccines protect against the 3 or 4 viruses that research suggests will be most common. Flu vaccination also has been shown to significantly reduce a child’s risk of serious complications from influenza. Three-component vaccines contain an H3N2, an H1N1 and a B virus.
2. Prevent Spreading Germs!
3. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
4. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
5. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
6. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
7. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. 
8. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. 
9. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.

Flu Symptoms:

1. Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

   • Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
   • Cough
   • Sore throat
   • Runny or stuffy nose
   • Muscle or body aches
   • Headaches
   • Fatigue (tiredness)
   • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

   *It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Flu Facts

• All influenza strains that have been characterized in Massachusetts this season to date are covered by the current influenza vaccine.
• In the 2019-2020 flu season, more influenza B than influenza A positive specimens have been reported by hospitals and outpatient facilities in Massachusetts.
• Nationally, influenza-like illness activity remains elevated and influenza B is most common, however, during recent weeks approximately equal numbers of influenza B and influenza A have been reported.
• Additional statewide and national data including geographic spread, ILI activity, and pneumonia and influenza mortality are available at CDC’s FluView Weekly Report at www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly and FluView Interactive https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluviewinteractive.htm.     
• 
  
• Flu activity remains elevated. It’s not too late to get vaccinated.
•  Flu vaccination is always the best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications.