Morgan County has reported significant influenza activity for the past three weeks, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The flu epidemic has become “widespread” in Alabama as of last week, and Hartselle City Schools are doing what they can to keep their students healthy.

Hartselle High School’s nurse Jean-Marie Davis said she is stressing preventative methods to keep the virus from spreading.

“We are reminding everyone to wash their hands often and use disinfectant on all surfaces,” Davis said. “We don’t want anyone coming to school sick or within 24 hours of running a fever. They should go to the doctor with any flu-like symptoms for quick treatment.”

Three strains of the flu have been identified in Alabama in the past three weeks including influenza A (H3), influenza B/Yamagata and influenza B/Vicotria. Davis said several cases have been identified as H3.

| Courtesy of Alabama Department of Public Health

“This season’s flu shot doesn’t specifically take care of the H3 virus, but I still strongly suggest people who have not already had a flu shot to get one,” Davis said. “There are other strains of flu that they can catch that the flu shot can prevent. It’s still important to do what you can to take care of yourself and stop the spread to others.”

Davis said she had talked with local doctors about their flu incidences this year.

“Dr. Mashburn said he has seen more confirmed cases than usual in his office, and I’m sure there are others in the area,” Davis said. “Family members of those with a confirmed case are not tested for the flu, but they receive the same precautionary medication when they present similar symptoms, so there are more sick than the confirmed cases. Our school hasn’t had it too bad, but we have to keep the germs from spreading.”

HHS Principal Jeff Hyche said the teachers and administration have been made aware of safe flu season practices.

“We haven’t really had a problem with flu this year, but all of our teachers are aware of the precautions to help prevent it,” Hyche said. “We are being extra conscious about it since we are back in session together again. The custodians have been asked to make an extra effort to clean door handles, desks, keyboards and anything else multiple people use each day to help prevent sickness.”

Hyche said asking parents to keep their sick children at home is a careful situation.

“We are always preaching ‘come to school’ and worrying about attendance, but they don’t need to be here if they have a fever,” Hyche said. “We expect parents to use their judgment and common sense to determine if their child should be around other students. So far we haven’t had sickness that is out of the ordinary, but I think having the break helped anything from spreading around. We will continue to do everything we can here to prevent the sharing of germs.”