Schools struggle with flu outbreaks, attendance dips

By Kumaran P | NT

Bengaluru: The recent rain has caused a mild outbreak of the flu and schools are witnessing a dip in attendance. Parents say children are down with symptoms like cold and cough, which has caused a scare, happening so soon after schools have reopened. However, schools are taking an innovative approach, checking students every morning and even setting up flu clinics on campus. “My daughter fell sick suddenly yesterday. We are hoping to put her in a new school next year and have an interaction lined up. It is a dilemma,” said a parent.

Schools say attendance has fallen, albeit slightly. “There has been a dip,” agreed Aloysius D’Mello, Principal, Greenwood High International School. “Parents are being extra cautious about sending their kids to school.” The school has taken precautions, he explains, including tying up with “nearby hospitals and keeping full time nurses as well as an ambulance on standby at the campus. We have also stocked up on basic medicines.”

Measures taken by schools

Canadian International school hosted a flu vaccine clinic at their Yelahanka campus. “We also had a webinar hosted by the city’s paediatricians to help create awareness about common childhood illnesses and viruses that are prevalent at this time of year. We send parents a weekly health-check form to track illnesses. Parents must fill it before children attend oncampus learning,” says Shweta Sastri, the school’s Managing Director.

Covid-19 is still on people’s radar, Sastri says. “The school is strict about sick kids staying at home. The school also has a bimonthly content-tracing questionnaire that parents fill out.” At Ekya School, staff and faculty conduct temperature checks to see if students show any flu-like symptoms, says Shubhra Johri Sinha, Head of School. “The same goes for faculty and other school staff as well.” Students carry extra masks, wash their hands and use disposable tissues. “F requently touched objects and surfaces are disinfected daily,” Sinha explains.

‘Take extra precautions during rain’

What doctors say

Dr Sagar Bhattad, Consultant - Paediatric Immunology & Rheumatology, Aster CMI Hospital says that they have witnessed many children with the flu, influenza and even dengue. “Heavy rainfall can result in vector-borne diseases like dengue and waterborne diseases like typhoid. Avoid eating outside and drink clean water. Good hand hygiene and regularly using masks are a must.”