Staff Writer
While flu is in every school in the Augusta area, it has yet to make a big impact in absences in Richmond and Columbia counties, officials said Wednesday morning. And although pediatricians say they are seeing a lot of flu cases, most have been relatively mild.
At a news conference Wednesday at Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center, pediatric emergency medicine physician and flu expert James Wilde said flu is widespread in Georgia and in every school in the area, but that most healthy children do not need antiviral treatment and should be cared for at home.
This echoes recommendations made Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pediatrician Karen Foushee of Pediatric Partners of Augusta said they are seeing "lots and lots" of flu cases but so far have not had to hospitalize any patients. Dr. Wilde said he has seen few severe cases as well.
Columbia County has not seen a significant rate of absenteeism but is allowing children to be excused for up to five days with just a parent note, said Robert Jarrell, assistant superintendent for student support. Columbia County schools head nurse Lisa Whitlock said schools are following the fever policy of isolating sick pupils with a mask before they can be sent home and parents are apparently keeping sick children out of school. An emphasis on proper hand-washing is also apparently working, she said.
"It's helping," Mrs. Whitlock said.
Richmond County schools also have not seen a large number of absences and only a couple of special-needs classes have been significantly affected, said Carol Rountree, the executive director of student services. Sick children in Richmond County do not need a doctor's note for an excused absence, but do need a parent's note describing the child's symptoms, she said.
Richmond County schools will hold flu shot clinics beginning the week of Sept. 28. Columbia County middle schools will also hold flu shot clinics beginning Oct. 3 from 3 to 6 p.m. A child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive the shot, which is $25, Mrs. Whitlock said.
The health departments in each county are conducting both school-based clinics.
Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.
