HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – The flu bug has hit West Michigan.
The Ottawa County Department of Public Health says they are seeing an increase of the flu and stomach flu in schools, childcare and healthcare providers.
According to Kristina Weighmink of the Department of Public Health, they have seen a spike in the last few weeks and it is at a seasonal high at this time.
Cal DeKuiper Superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools says they had a good peak in late Novmber ahead of everyone else, but recently it hasn’t touched them right now. Attendance rates are at in the high 90’s and we are very fortunate right now. The only issue we had was that teachers have been ill. There wasn’t enough substitute teachers out there to cover.”
The Health Department encourages residents to stay home until 24 hours after their symptoms stop, if you are ill with vomiting and/or diarrhea, and to avoid preparing food for others.
To prevent illness, it is important that both ill and well people frequently wash their hands with soap and warm water; hand sanitizer is not effective at preventing transmission of some of the most common viral causes of gastroenteritis.
