McMeen Elementary

Greetings McMeen Families,

 Flu rates are spiking across the country, including here in Colorado and here at McMeen Elementary.

What is the flu?

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. There are three types of the virus, but only two (influenza A and influenza B) are responsible for the annual flu season, which can stretch from September through April.

The disease is highly contagious and spreads primarily through respiratory droplets from person to person when people sneeze or cough.

 Cold air/weather does NOT cause the flu.

The virus changes from year to year. That’s why we need a new flu shot every year.

The flu can lead to serious health complications in some people, even death.

As a community, we can limit the spread of the flu by following the guidelines below:

1. Get you and your family their flu shots - everyone 6 months old and older should get an annual flu shot

                                                                         (it is safe and strongly recommended for pregnant people) 

                                  *** Like any vaccine, the flu shot is not 100% effective, however, people that get the vaccine and still get the flu are                                         more likely to experience milder symptoms and avoid hospital visits. 

                                  *** The flu shot cannot make you ill with the flu. The flu shot can, and should, activate your immune system in for it

                                       to "remember" that the flu should be something to "fight" off. Immune activation can sometimes cause a short

                                       duration of fever and aches. This is a normal response to the shot.

2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

3. Cover your cough.

4. Stay home if you’re sick. Don’t spread illnesses to other people.

     ***Students should not return to school after having a fever until they have been fever free for at least 24 hours WITHOUT fever

         reducing medications like Tylenol and Motrin. 

5. If you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, use hand sanitizer. But remember that sanitizer doesn’t kill viruses that cause stomach bugs, like norovirus ("stomach flu"). To kill these bugs, you must use soap and water or bleach.

6. Clean surfaces frequently

7. Clean your devices. If you have washed your hands, but not your phone, and you touch your phone then eat, you can get sick.

8. If your hands aren’t clean, avoid touching your face, eyes or nose because you can spread viruses.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our McMeen community as safe and healthy as we can! Please reach out if you would like information on where to get the flu vaccine or need guidance if your student should be at school or not when sick.