Several Kentucky school districts have been forced to cancel classes weeks into the school year after outbreaks of COVID, flu and headaches left both students and staff sick at home — as health officials warned of a possible “tripledemic” this fall.
Although classes only started on Aug. 9 for students in the Lee County School District, Superintendent Earl Ray Schuler noticed a sharp drop in attendance just a week into the year — when 150 of the district’s nearly 900 students called in sick on Aug. 18.
By the following Monday, the number of absences had increased to 157, and 14 staff members were also said to be out of work, Scripps News Lexington reported.
The district determined that COVID, flu and strep were to blame — and canceled classes at all schools on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Lee County Schools canceled classes on Tuesday and Wednesday and held isolated days throughout the week due to widespread illness among staff and students. Facebook/Lee County School District, KY
Thursday and Friday will take place as distance learning days, and extracurricular activities are canceled for the rest of the week to allow for cleanup, Schuler said.
“All buildings and buses [are] is being cleaned, and all student activities for the remainder of the week are canceled,” Schuler said, adding that school will be back in session on Monday.
Scott Lockard, director of public health for the Kentucky River District said the region has seen a sharp increase in COVID cases.
Lee County has seen an increase in COVID cases, according to health officials. Getty Images
“In Lee County, the attendance is at that level where they feel they have to make the call to push classes for the rest of the week,” he said.
About an hour to the east, schools in Magoffin County were also closed this week due to “widespread illness.”
“We are seeing an increase in absenteeism. They say COVID, but they also cause sore throats there, and there’s a virus circulating, a stomach virus,” Magoffin County Health Department Director Pete Shepherd told WKYT.
Several school districts in Kentucky have been affected by increased cases of COVID, flu and strep. Getty Images
Shepherd said it first started as a combination of illnesses, but now COVID is the leading cause of illness in the county, where there have been at least 40 confirmed cases this week.
“The last month before school, we hardly gave any tests at home. We started giving it back, and we couldn’t get it fast enough to give it away,” Shepherd said.
Although the regular flu season begins in October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already begun tracking cases — and has warned of a potential “tripledemic,” in which variants of RSV, flu and COVID may spread together this fall.
Health officials are warning of a “tripledemic” that will hit this fall. AP
In addition to the flu virus and the latest COVID mutant (EG.5 or Eris), health officials have warned the public about the deadly spread of the respiratory respiratory virus.
“RSV results in approximately 14,000 deaths among older adults each year,” said Dr. Eric Cioè-Peña, vice president of global health for Northwell Health, told The Post on Wednesday.
“RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age. It can result in hospitalization and even death in severe cases,” added Cioe-Peña.
“tripledemic” consists of COVID, flu and RSV. Getty Images
“For adults over 65, RSV usually causes mild cold-like symptoms but can also lead to severe respiratory illness, worsening of underlying conditions and death.”
There are two FDA-approved vaccines to treat RSV currently available for adults age 60 and older, one of which is also approved for pregnant women to protect newborns from RSV.
Along with the latest variant of COVID and the flu virus surge, Cioè-Peña said to see a “tripledemic” possible this fall.
“This vaccine is a game changer,” added Cioe-Peña. “Don’t wait until it’s too late and you’re already seriously ill with one of these respiratory viruses to hope you or your loved ones get vaccinated.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
