JCPS reports hundreds of flu cases as other school districts around Louisville cancel class

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- January and February are the peak months of cold and flu season, and experts are saying it is not only hitting hard this year, but it's coming all at once.

Jefferson County Public Schools said it currently has 351 cases of the flu and 45 cases of COVID-19. More than a dozen school districts in Kentucky and southern Indiana are on pause or using non-traditional learning because so many students and staff are sick.

Many districts in the Louisville area canceled days or called out for the rest of the week, including Hardin and Bullitt County. Oldham County is scheduled to be back Friday after three days of NTI.

JCPS has noticed the spread varies from school to school. The symptoms are typical of flu A, which is headache, stomach ache and sore throat.

"We have nurses in all of our schools, and so the nurses have been doing a phenomenal job," said Eva Stone, district health manager for JCPS. "They see kids who are symptomatic, they isolate them away from the other kids and they notify parents. Parents have been picking their kids up. Those things are all very important for us to help prevent it from spreading further in our schools."

During the days the districts are closed, staff has been doing a deep-clean of school facilities.

JCPS offered three tips Wednesday to help protect children from sickness:

Keep sick children at home: If your child has flu symptoms, please keep them home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and feel well enough to participate in daily activities.
Consider flu vaccination: If you or your child has not yet been vaccinated, now is the time. The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent severe illness. If your child does not have a healthcare provider or health insurance, please call (502) 485-3387 for assistance in scheduling a flu vaccine appointment at a school-based clinic or our clinic at 3001 Crittenden Drive.
Consult a healthcare provider: If you or your child develop flu symptoms or you have concerns about their health, please follow up with a healthcare provider. If your child does not have a provider, our school nurses and nurse practitioners are available to offer guidance.

Doctors said it is not too late to get a flu shot, but it takes a couple weeks for it to take effect.

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