Area Schools Fight Flu Outbreak With Sanitizing Crews

ABILENE, TX – As the flu continues to sweep across the nation, schools across West Texas are taking action to prevent further outbreaks from happening.

According to KTXS, Roscoe Collegiate and Merkel ISD are taking a proactive approach to battle the flu inside their schools after other districts had to close due to an increase in students diagnosed with the illness.

In Merkel, the staff set off "germicide bombs" in the elementary school and described it as a “proactive effort to minimize further exposure of influenza in our schools."

In Roscoe, classes were canceled on Monday as well as basketball games after recent outbreaks of the flu. The district stated crews will be sanitizing the campus.

In Abilene ISD, 237 students missed school last week after being diagnosed with the flu. This is an increase of 154 students when compared to the absences of two weeks ago. The district urged parents to keep their children home if they are sick and for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever of 100 degrees or higher.

Merkel ISD also shared the following tips from the CDC:

• Get a flu shot
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home from work and school and avoid running errands when sick
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often to help protect you from germs
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching something contaminated with germs
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school, especially when someone is sick
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food