Health officials are reporting very few cases of the flu in McKean County — but some kind of bug is certainly making the rounds.
On Friday, Bradford Area School Superintendent Katy Pude said a stomach virus caused many students and teachers to be absent from Floyd C. Fretz Middle School in Bradford.
It was initially reported as food poisoning, but an investigation revealed otherwise, she said. Only the students had eaten the food at the school, while the teachers did not, Pude said.
With children in such a confined space, illness spreads quickly, Pude said. “It’s kind of early in the year” for so many to be sick, Pude said.
Across town, Bradford Regional Medical Center has had a different experience. Flu cases are nearly non-existent thus far, said Janene Dunn, spokeswoman for BRMC.
“We have seen one infant who was positive for Influenza B. That’s it. He was treated in an outpatient setting,” said Terrie O’Brien, infection prevention at BRMC.
From Oct. 1 to Oct. 28, the state Department of Health reported that there were two reported cases in Potter County and one in Elk County. The state reported no cases for McKean and Cameron counties.
“Right now, our flu activity is considered sporadic, with small numbers of confirmed cases,” said state Department of Health spokeswoman April Hutcheson.
Symptoms could include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy, nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (very tired), rarely, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the state Department of Health.
“It’s always a good idea to promote hand hygiene (hand washing), covering coughs/sneezes and receiving the flu shot as ways to prevent the flu,” Dunn said.
Individuals 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season, especially those deemed of being high risk of serious complications from influenza, health officials suggest.
“Now is the time to get your flu shot, before the flu season gets into full swing,” Hutcheson said. “It takes two weeks for the shot to take effect and may pharmacies are offering them at little or no cost.”
Other tips include limiting contact with individuals and staying home for at least 24 hours after a fever passes, except to get medical care or for other necessities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For more information about the flu season, see www.health.pa.gov.
