HEALTH chiefs have written to headteachers in north Cumbria offering advice about flu-like illnesses after one secondary school reported a 40 per cent absence rate.

Cumbria County Council has confirmed that Samuel King’s School in Alston has reported that as many as four in 10 of the 100 pupils who attend the school have been recorded as absent. The headteacher of Brampton’s William Howard School has also reported a higher-than usual absence rate.

In a letter to parents, William Howard headteacher Chris McAree states: “I am writing to you as we are currently experiencing a large number of absences from school.

“The reasons for the absences are varied, but there are a larger number of students than normal who have had flu like symptoms including sickness and diarrhoea.”

Mr McAree’s letter goes on to offer health and hygiene advice.

A Cumbria County Council spokesman told The Cumberland News that a small number of a schools across Cumbria have reported above average absences after pupils reported suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms.

The spokesman added: “Diarrhoea and vomiting illnesses can easily spread from one person to another, particularly in places like schools where people are in close contact with each other for much of the day.”

He said the key advice was that anyone who becomes ill should stay away from school until they have been free from symptoms for at least 48 hours.

Good personal hygiene is also important, such as washing hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before handling food.

Additional advice from Public Health England includes the need to drink plenty of fluids and rest to prevent dehydration. If you have concerns about your child becoming dehydrated, consult your GP or local pharmacy.

The organisation has issued the following advice to parents for flu outbreaks:

n Symptoms can include fever, an aching body, dry cough, headache, sore throat, diarrhoea or tummy pain, feeling sick and being sick.

n Flu and flu-like illnesses can be unpleasant, but if you’re otherwise healthy it should usually clear up on its own within a week. However, it can cause serious illness in those with other health problems.

n To reduce spread of infection it is important to keep children with any symptoms of flu-like illness away from school until they have recovered, are free of symptoms and have not had a fever for at least 24 hours.

n Good respiratory hygiene i.e. covering nose/mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, discarding tissues after use and washing hands with water and soap, is also important to reduce the risk to others.

It is important that any pupil, staff member or household contacts (such as grandparents or pregnant women) who fit into any of the “at risk” group list below have their seasonal flu vaccine each year. If you believe you your child or any household member fits into the group below and has not already had their seasonal flu vaccine, ensure they get vaccinated (by your GP or school as appropriate).

The following are in an “at risk” group and eligible for flu vaccination:

n Those aged 65 years and over

n Those aged six months to under 65 years with chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease, or those who are immunosuppressed and those with diabetes mellitus

n Pregnant women

n Those resident long term in care homes

n Those who are morbidly obese (BMI >40)

n Carers - If you are the main carer for someone who is elderly or disabled

Additionally, all children aged two to ten years on 31, 2019 are eligible for the free flu vaccine.

If you are concerned about you /your child’s illness, particularly if you/your child are in an “at risk” group, please contact your GP. If you contact your GP about this, please have this letter to hand.

Further information is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/ .