The US is facing a surge of winter illnesses, with the flu spreading rapidly across the country. Multiple schools have closed their doors due to the outbreak, leaving thousands of students and staff at home. Christian Heritage Academy in Virginia shut down after one in six students fell ill with the flu, while West Independent School District in Texas closed all its schools for two days.
According to the CDC, flu activity remains ‘very high’ in 28 states, including those affected by school closures. The latest data shows that over 40 million Americans fall ill with the flu every year, and around 36,000 die. Experts suggest that declining vaccine rates may contribute to the rise in illnesses like the flu.
The flu spreads through droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. It becomes more prevalent during winter as people spend more time indoors, leading to increased transmission. The ‘quad-demic’ of winter illnesses – including Covid, RSV, and norovirus – has left many schools scrambling to cope.
While treatment for the flu includes rest, fluids, and antiviral medications, the rapid spread of the illness is a concern. Multiple states have reported ‘very high’ levels of flu activity, with some having already closed their schools due to outbreaks.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14346935/schools-flu-lockdown-viral-infection-texas-virginia-outbreak.html