Many schools in the US are closed by the flu

At least 10 states, including Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee notice of school closing for the flu. This measure reminds of the blockade for Covid-19. However, officials said the closing of schools only took place in a short time, most of which lasted a few days.

According to estimates of the Center for Control and Prevention of American epidemics (CDC), from the beginning of 2024 to now, at least 24 million cases, 310,000 hospitalized cases and 13,000 deaths due to influenza. The nationwide positive test rate increased to 31%, from only 18% in mid -January. Cases of infection increased sharply in children. Up to now, at least 57 children die.

The flu is a common and contagious respiratory disease, which can cause unpleasant symptoms that last a week such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose and body aches. The virus is easily transmitted from person to person through respiratory drops.

According to the FluView monitoring report of the CDC, from the end of January to the beginning of February, the influenza cases are still high and continue to increase nationwide. At least 43 states and report “serious” or “very serious” level. The number of emergency examination and hospitalization related to the flu is also increasing.

“What makes us most worried is that bacterial infections can occur in parallel with the flu, making children seriously ill. The flu and complications easily cause them to die,” said Dr. Jason Newland, Head The Department of Infectious Diseases at the National Children’s Hospital, said.

Besides the flu, the US also recorded the wave of Norovirus, Covid-19 and RSV. Some people call this “double pandemic”. Dr. Torey Mack, Health Director of the Children’s Hospital Association, representing more than 200 hospitals nationwide, said the clinics and emergency departments are overloaded. Many schools also become small clusters because children cross each other.

In the US, the flu usually reaches from December to February. However, this year’s epidemic season starts much later than usual, increasing sharply in December and outbreak after the holiday. According to many experts, the disease has not yet reached its peak. The number of cases, hospitalization and death will continue to increase in the next week. In particular, schools are where the virus is active. Most educational institutions in the United States are closed, students are close to close contacts, often share utensils, touch the surfaces, making pathogens easily spread.

Although the closing of the school seems worrying, experts think that this is normal when the flu broke out violently. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical School, said that closing schools for a period of time for the flu season to pass is essential. This method cannot eliminate diseases, but may slow down the virus speed.

“The schools are also closed because teachers are infected with flu and take leave. Many schools are taking advantage of this opportunity to disinfect deeper,” he added.

Experts say that the closing of schools is only a short -term measure, which does not mean completely blocking.