Acton-Boxborough Regional School District

15 Charter Road, Acton, MA 01720

www.abschools.org (978) 264-4700

Dear Families & Staff,

At this time of year, it is hard to refer to a news source without hearing about the flu virus. The Massachusetts
Department of Health’s Weekly Flu Report indicates that flu severity is moderate this week, with a higher rate of doctor
visits than the previous two years during this week. Currently, the District is experiencing typical student absence rates
for this time of year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the flu virus comes on suddenly, and people sick with flu often feel
some or all of these symptoms:
● fever* or feeling feverish/chills (Of note: *not everyone with flu will have a fever)
● cough
● sore throat
● runny or stuffy nose
● muscle or body aches
● headaches
● fatigue (tiredness)
● some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Unfortunately at this time, our nurses are seeing many students who are being sent to school sick. It is important to
keep your children home if they are sick. Remember, if your child has a fever, you must:
○ Keep them home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children or staff.
○ Make sure they remain at home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone, without using fever-reducing
medications, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil).

In addition to reporting on the seasonal flu virus, news outlets are also covering the coronavirus, which originated in the
city of Wuhan in Hubei Province, China. The CDC lists coronavirus symptoms as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
To date, there are only two confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. in Seattle and Chicago, and airports are taking
significant measures to screen passengers arriving from China. According to this WGBH article, The Massachusetts
Department of Public Health has determined that we are at low risk for coronavirus but advises precautions like keeping
children home if they have flu-like symptoms, washing hands regularly, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and
covering coughs. While it is highly unlikely, if you or your child develops flu-like symptoms and you have recently
traveled to one of infected areas, please notify your school nurse.

Many of you may have seen the measures China is taking to reduce transmission of the virus by placing a few cities
under quarantine, canceling Lunar New Year festivals, and closing popular tourist attractions. Sadly, even our local
Acton Chinese Language School canceled its Spring Festival Celebration this coming weekend. We recognize that news
of this virus and its timing around the most important Chinese holiday is weighing heavily on many of our families,
particularly those who are members of the Chinese community.

For more guidance on the flu, please visit these websites here:
● How to Know if You Have the Flu video (CDC)
● The Flu: A Guide for Parents (CDC)
● Massachusetts Department of Public Health

We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis with our school nurses and local health departments and take
appropriate steps to support students and staff health.