As the weather changes, respiratory illnesses such as flu, RSV, whooping cough (pertussis), and hand, foot, and mouth disease become more common among children. Austin Public Health encourages families to stay informed and take preventive steps to keep everyone healthy.
Tips for Families:
- Vaccinate – Flu, COVID-19, and pertussis vaccines are recommended for children and adults. Vaccines greatly reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalization.
- Stay home when sick – Children should remain home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine) and feeling better.
- Practice good hygiene – Teach children to wash hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid sharing food or drinks.
- Improve indoor air quality – Keep air clean by increasing ventilation at home and in classrooms whenever possible.
Please take a moment to review the attached informational flyers from Austin Public Health, which include details on:
- Respiratory illness prevention and reporting
- Whooping cough symptoms and care
- Tips for schools and childcare programs during flu season
Together, we can help keep our school community healthy and safe!
Attachments:
📎 Respiratory Illness Information for Schools
📎 Whooping Cough (Pertussis) – English & Spanish Handout
📎 https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:cffa5e7b-ec65-489a-ab1b-35a098c44354
https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html
http://bit.ly/48CwJ8C
Click on the links above for more details and helpful health resources.