VIRUSES EMPTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Anyone felled by viruses making their rounds in the region can take comfort in the fact they aren't alone.

Students are missing school and doctors and nurses are putting in long hours to treat patients complaining of upper respiratory and gastrointestinal miseries.

"We've been busy for about two weeks now," said Nancy Mosley, a pediatric nurse-practitioner at Cross Trails Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. "We've got the vomiting fever, we have the just high fever and upper respiratory, and we have vomiting and diarrhea. You can take your pick."

In addition, Mosley said, the clinic has seen one confirmed case of Beijing flu. Other flu-like cases are pending confirmation.

"We're seeing a lot of upper respiratory stuff," said Jari Southard, a nurse on the adult treatment side at Cross Trails.

Dr. Robb Hicks of Immediate HealthCare Inc., in Cape Girardeau said strep viruses as well as upper respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses are prevalent now.

"We're kind of having an epidemic right now, if you haven't noticed," he said. "There's a group of winter viruses that's starting to come on right now."

The viruses take several days to run their course, Hicks said, and "I suspect they're going to be with us for a while."

Dr. Scott Lewis, a physician in Southeast Missouri Hospital's emergency department, agreed.

"It came on probably two weeks ago, and it looks like it may be here another two, three weeks, probably a month," he said. "Our business has really picked up."

Winter is an especially hospitable time for viral infections, Hicks said, because people are indoors in close contact with classmates, co-workers and family. So the viruses are easily spread from person to person.

"The average child in day care gets sick about two months," he said. "They come home and give it to their brothers and sisters and mom."

There's nothing unusual about this year's viral outbreak, Lewis said, although the infected might feel differently.

"It occurs pretty much every year at this time: late fall, early winter, which is where we're at," he said.

Schools have been especially hard-hit.

At Jackson Junior High School, "We were down to like 70 percent attendance on Monday," said school secretary Terrie Mouser. She said on Wednesday about 90 students were out and on Thursday about 47.

The school has an enrollment of approximately 630.

"We've had quite a few kids out," said Joe Crain, principal at Orchard Drive Elementary in Jackson. "I think this building's probably been hit harder than any in Jackson."

Absences at Orchard Drive totalled 156 on Monday, 146 on Tuesday and 118 on Wednesday, Crain said. Enrollment at the school is approximately 600 students.

"We're probably back up to 85 percent attendance today," he said Thursday, estimating that about 90 students were probably out sick. Attendance dipped to 74 percent on Monday, he said, and normally runs at 96 to 97 percent.

At Nell Holcomb School in Cape Girardeau, 30 students were absent Monday out of an enrollment of 300.

"That's a lot for us," said principal Jack Mann. But attendance had improved by Thursday, when only 19 students were out sick.

High absenteeism was also reported in the Cape Girardeau public schools.

At Franklin School, which has an enrollment of 370, 102 students were out sick Tuesday, reported principal Jim Watkins.

"It's better now than it was earlier in the week," he said Thursday. Thursday's attendance figures were not available.

"We're hoping Christmas break will help it work itself out" as students are able to get away from infected classmates, Watkins said. On the other hand, he said, many students will be traveling, "so we're not sure what we'll be seeing after the vacation."

At Clippard Elementary School, 60 students out of an enrollment of approximately 460 were out sick, along with four teachers. On Monday, 99 students were home sick, school secretary Carolyn Campbell reported.

At Cape Central High School, "I'm swamped," said school nurse Jeanne Heise. "It's hit us pretty hard. I sent home 15 Wednesday and a couple today."

In the Chaffee public schools, absenteeism was averaging 50 to 60 students daily at both the elementary and high school, reported Barbara Cook, a secretary in the district.

People infected with viruses need to drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration, Mosley said, and young children should be given electrolyte solutions if they have the gastrointestinal virus. Parents should give children Tylenol or acetominophen to treat fever instead of aspirin.

"In children, just watch for the other symptoms," Mosley said. "Be sure the child is drinking and acting OK when the fever's down."

Children under 6 months should see a doctor if they have a fever, she said.

To help prevent the spread of the viruses, it's important to practice good sanitation, health experts said.

"Some of the viruses can survive on your hands for up to four hours," Hicks said, so it's important to wash hands frequently. Most of the viruses will be spread by hand contact, not through the air, he said.

Other prevention steps include avoiding crowds or poorly-ventilated areas to cut down on exposure to the viruses and to disinfect glasses, utensils and other items used by people who are infected.

"We're giving flu shots right now, and it's important that they know that these are not the flu that we're inoculating against right now," Hicks said. "Most of the major flus -- influenza -- won't start until next year, in January and February and March. We use the word flu kind of loosely to mean these viral infections that people are talking about."