BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) - It’s that time of year where the flu, RSV and other viruses are running rampant. The illnesses are hitting some school systems in Alabama hard, causing them to close for winter break early.
The Alabama Department of Public Health says over the last few weeks, there have been more reports of flu and RSV, putting most districts above the seasonal baseline. But ADPH says this is par for the course this time of year.
"Flu and RSV peak in Alabama around the first of the year, so we’re in that time period where we would typically start seeing those illnesses, so this is very much expected,” Dr. Wes Stubblefield with ADPH said.
ADPH says the CDC lists Alabama as having moderate flu activity right now, but the illness is impacting almost every district in the state.
In Blount County, Hayden Elementary School and Hayden Primary School are closed for the rest of the week because of the flu. Blount County Superintendent Rodney Green says the absentee rate at those two schools is at 34%.
"While we’ve seen a slight uptick in flu cases in all schools across the county, not to the level we’ve experienced the last couple days at Hayden," Green said. "[Thursday], we were expecting to be in need of 25 substitutes and you know, 25 teachers being out and some paraprofessionals and administration at one of our schools, our administrators are also under the weather, it just became clear that we needed to go ahead and close.”
Green says the district wanted to push through the week since it’s a fun time for students, but everyone’s health and well-being is the most important.
"We’re disappointed that our students, for example, will not have their traditional celebrations or they won’t have their traditional Christmas parties and have that time with their friends and with their teacher and with their parents, because a lot of our parents will come in and visit us during Christmas party time,” he said.
In Chilton County, many bus drivers have gotten sick, affecting bus routes for the rest of the week. Chilton County Schools Transportation Director Mark Cleckler says some routes will be doubled up, but because so many students are absent, there won't be overcrowding issues.
ADPH says the most important thing to remember entering the holidays is if anyone is feeling sick, they should stay home so the illness doesn’t spread any further.