St. Michael-Albertville Schools Report Normal Rate of Student Illness; Flu Widespread Across State, Nation

As flu rates skyrocket around the state and nation, and, locally, have boosted the number of emergency cases at Buffalo Hospital, students at area schools seem to be staying away from the bug.

St. Michael-Albertville School District has not seen a significant amount of illness-related absences this flu season, according to Jim Behle, superintendent.

Behle said both of the district's nurses report a lower to normal absenteeism rate for this time of year.

"We monitor absenteeism due to illness on a daily basis and are required to report to the Department of Health schools when absenteeism for illness is greater than five percent," he said.

He added that families can help the school prevent the spread of flu by doing three things:

• Get a flu vaccination
• Take everyday prevention actions to stop the spread of germs such as covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and washing hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
• Closely monitor children for flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue and keep children with flu like symptoms home from school