News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Over the past couple of weeks it seems that nearly everyone in Sisters has been down with some kind of bug - bad colds, respiratory infections and "the crud" that feels like the flu even when it's not.
Last Friday, there were 44 Sisters Elementary School students out sick and numbers were even higher the week before.
"It's tapering off a bit," said Principal Jan Silberman. "A lot of kids are coming to school pretty sick."
That, of course, is how things spread, and the school district wants sick kids to stay home. School rules say a child should be clear of fever for 24 hours before returning to school from an illness, and the same time frame applies for stomach ailments - 24 hours without throwing up.
Kids (and adults, too) should stay home as soon as they feel the symptoms coming on.
"People are most contagious at the beginning of an illness," said Dr. May Fan of Bend Memorial Clinic. "So if they're coming down, that's the day to keep them home."
Dr. Fan said she is concerned about high school kids feeling pressured to keep up their sports activities when they're sick.
"The whole sports culture is pressuring kids to show up, infect their teammates and then it spreads through the whole school," Dr. Fan said. "I think it's a big problem."
Sisters High School Athletic Director Mary Flande said that it's against policy to have sick kids coming to practices.
"If kids aren't in school, they're not at practice," she said. "We encourage kids to go home and get healthy."
However, Flande said she was going to check with her coaches to make sure that students understand that they are to stay home when sick.
Dr. Fan said there has been a variety of ailments laying people in Sisters low.
"We have seen influenza B along with some non-influenza illnesses and some secondary infections," she said.
Dr. Elisa Uri of High Lakes Health Care says she has actually seen less influenza this year than last.
Many times, people think they have "the flu" when they actually have less serious but still very unpleasant viruses.
"There's tons of viruses out there," Dr. Uri said. "A lot of stuff that's seen recently isn't necessarily the flu."
March seems to be the peak season for the flu and other viral illnesses, and things may be tapering off now. The usual precautions are best: frequent hand washing with soap and hot water, avoiding people you know are sick and getting plenty of rest can help increase your chances of dodging the bullet.
And if you get sick, stay home and avoid infecting your coworkers or fellow students.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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