In a major setback for a Kentucky school district, classes have been canceled shortly after reopening due to a widespread outbreak of flu, Covid, and strep throat among students. Less than two weeks after the summer break ended on August 9, nearly one in five pupils were absent due to various illnesses. The Lee County School District, which serves around 900 students in eastern Kentucky, made the decision to close its doors when attendance did not improve in the following week.
Fourteen staff members were also on leave, battling with Covid, strep throat, and flu symptoms. The district swiftly implemented remote learning for today and tomorrow, although the exact date of resuming in-person classes remains unclear. Furthermore, all extracurricular activities, including sports, have been canceled to facilitate a thorough cleaning of the school.
Superintendent Earl Ray Schuler emphasized the importance of sanitization and providing time for staff and students to recover from the illnesses. The district consists of Lee County Elementary School and a combined middle and high school, both of which experienced similar proportions of student absences.
Dr. Danny Benjamin, a pediatrician at Duke University, highlighted that it is relatively early in the year to witness a significant flu outbreak. He anticipates that such outbreaks would occur around early October. It is worth noting that last year’s flu season in the US began earlier than expected, in the first few weeks of October.
Regarding the Covid situation, infection rates have nearly doubled in the US over the past month due to the emergence of highly mutated variants. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the test positivity rate has risen from one in 15 to one in eight between the weeks ending July 15 and August 12.
In addition to the flu and Covid, strep throat cases have also been reported in the district. Daily case figures for Strep A, however, are not tracked on a national level by the CDC. Strep throat, caused by invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS), is characterized by symptoms such as a sore throat, rash, muscle aches, and fever. Although relatively mild, it can cause complications if left untreated.
Looking ahead, updated Covid boosters are expected to be rolled out in mid to late September pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The school district and the wider community will be hoping for a decline in illness cases and a return to normalcy soon.
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