A respiratory illness outbreak in Cochrane Christian Academy left a large number of students sick with respiratory symptoms last week, prompting Alberta Health Services (AHS) to advise parents to keep an eye out for their children to help prevent the spread.
In notice letter sent by the Communicable Disease Control Outbreak Team of Public Health on Nov. 21, AHS advised parents and guardians to be wary of symptoms, proper treatment, and ways to prevent further spread of illness.
Respiratory illness symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, lost or altered sense of taste or smell, runny nose or nasal congestion and fever. It may also include fatigue, muscle ache or joint pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Germs that cause respiratory illness are easily spread between students through coughing and secretions from the nose and mouth. AHS therefore advises students to regularly wash or clean hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes with their sleeves or tissues, and throwing used tissues away immediately and then cleaning hands.
AHS also advised that wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask can reduce the risk of becoming sick and can help protect others from being exposed to germs. Student’s decisions regarding masks will be supported regardless of their choice.
Students with respiratory illness symptoms are advised to stay home from school until their condition improves, they have not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication, and are well enough to resume normal activities.
Mild symptoms shown in children who develop respiratory illness can usually disappear without any special treatment by ensuring kids get extra rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Parents can find additional resources and advice from Alberta Pediatric Emergency Medicine experts by visiting AHS Health, Education and Learning (HEAL) website.
Additionally, AHS outlined that immunization is an important step in protecting yourself and others from influenza and COVID-19 this flu season. For information on booking appointments, Cochranites are encouraged to visit ahs.ca/vaccine. For additional information about respiratory illness, they can call Health LINK Alberta at 811.
