Nearly half of an entire first grade class missed school Monday because of flu-like symptoms, according to parents at White Rock Elementary in Dallas.
Elissa Genova’s daughter, Eden, felt fine until Sunday afternoon when she started complaining of a headache and sore throat. By Monday, Eden’s temperature had reached 104 degrees. Her pediatrician determined that Eden had influenza Type A, despite receiving her flu mist vaccine two months ago.
“It’s a little concerning when you try to take precautions for your child and it doesn’t help and it is still going to spread,” said Genova.
It turns out Eden wasn’t the only child who came down with the flu in recent days. An email thread started circulating among parents of students in Eden’s class. Genova learned through the emails that a total of 10 children in her daughter’s first grade class missed school Monday because of flu-like symptoms.
“It’s pretty scary that, all of a sudden, starting Friday and Saturday, all these children were just diagnosed with the flu and all of them had said they got flu shots this year,” said Genova.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned that this year’s vaccine may not protect against the strain of flu that’s hitting North Texans the hardest.
Dallas County health officials say flu activity is increasing with 26-percent of tests positive for the week ending Nov. 29, according to the latest report.
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Richardson Independent School District officials said attendance was somewhat lower at White Rock Elementary on Monday with a 90.45 percent attendance rate. That means 73 students missed school, however, the district saud it typically sees school-specific trends in absences around the district this time of year, and it cannot confirm that they are flu-related absences.
A district spokesperson added, “in late September each year, our custodial crews begin more aggressive cleaning schedules and routines to help combat seasonal illnesses.”
