by Jaden Kitchen

Although flu season is hitting hard, not every student in Sevier County is out because of it. A Sevier County elementary school is seeing a slight increase in absent students–18 gone per day as opposed to 15 gone per day at this time last year. However, only a few of these absent students actually have the flu.

Many students are kept home because parents think that they have the flu when the student really just has a cold. To clear up the confusion, Alicia Beckstead, Community Health Services Director at Central Utah Public Health Department, identifies the differences between the two.

“Influenza is usually an abrupt onset so they, all the sudden, get a high fever or they feel body aches, chills,” Beckstead said. “They just get really sick really quick.”

Cade Douglas, Sevier School District superintendent, has some recommendations for parents.

“Sometimes we have parents that get really nervous about sending a healthy child to school for fear they’ll get something. Don’t keep your kid home for those kind of fears,” Douglas said. “If it becomes a concern or there is an outbreak, then we will take action to make sure all of our students are safe.”

To prevent your child from getting the flu, Sevier School District nurse, Shelly Winn, suggests teaching them to practice good hand washing habits. Also, a flu shot is available at the Central Utah Health Department, local pharmacies, and at your doctor’s office.