Flu Outbreak In Lincoln County Schools

Message from Lincoln County School District

The Flu has hit the State of Oregon and Lincoln County School District,

Lincoln County school nurses have been monitoring signs and symptoms of illness in each school for the past few weeks and have put in place precautionary cleaning measures. LCSD does this as a precaution every year during cold and flu season.

This allows us to track signs and symptoms, look for trends and try to diminish the spread of illness. Nationally the incidence of influenza-like illness and the flu have been on the rise. As of last Friday, the state of Oregon, like much of the nation has a high incidence of documented flu cases.

Over a week ago, in each school, the district implemented increased cleaning of high traffic areas in addition to the cleaning that usually occurs. We also required students/staff with fever, vomiting, diarrhea to remain home for 48 hours once symptoms were gone. At the same time, we also began having adults serve the students at the “self-serve” offering bar during lunch K-6th grade.

Wednesday, March 6, we noticed a large number of students with fever were out absent from Sam Case Elementary. There were also a few vomiting /diarrhea symptoms. As required, our district nurses immediately notified the Health Department. The Health Department deemed it to be an outbreak due to the number of students out sick.

Once an outbreak occurs, the Health Department requires school districts to implement specific precautions and procedures to track and diminish the spread of illness. The precautions and procedures are all in place. The LCSD nurses will continue to work with the Health Department and our schools to limit the spread of illness.

You can help by:

1. Keeping your student home if they are experiencing vomiting and/or diarrhea and staying home for 48 hours after the last episode.

2. Keeping your student home if they have a fever of 100°F or higher and a cough or sore throat. Stay home until the fever has been gone for 48 hours, without using fever-reducing medicines.