By Janet Jacobs

Contagious illnesses, primarily influenza and colds, are spreading through Navarro County, and it’s hitting schools hard. Local doctor’s offices are inundated with cases of flu, bronchitis, colds and strep, according to physicians.

“There’s possibly three different strains of flu running around, and even people who got the flu shot are susceptible,” said Dr. Joseph Saucedo. “I’ve come down with it and a couple of other doctors have come down with it.”

The symptoms aren’t the typical high fever, but a sudden miserable feeling, Saucedo said, speaking from experience. “It surprised me how many people who got the flu shot still come down with it,” he said.

None of the local campuses have closed their doors because of the bugs, but it’s still knocking out about 10-15 percent of students at area schools.

Bowie Elementary, with 695 kids, had 30 students out on Wednesday, while Carroll Elementary had 37 absences.

“It’s not been bad at all,” said Joyce Watson, who keeps attendance numbers at Carroll. “That’s normal for us this time of year.”

Attendance can vary according to the time of year, and day of the week, Watson explained. Mondays have more absences than Fridays, and winter has more absences than fall and spring.

Other Corsicana campuses also reported typical or average absentees figures for the time of year. Fannin Elementary hasn’t dropped below 95 percent, said Emily Welch, attendance clerk for that campus.

Kerens’ absences vary, but the most common excuse for absences is the flu and stomach virus, said A.J. Loscuito.

There were 80 students out at Mildred on Wednesday, between kindergarten and 12th grade, said Shannon Baker, Mildred High principal. For the last week, the district has been running a 10-12 percent absentee rate.

“We’re doing better, but the flu has definitely hit,” Baker said. “We’re wiping tables and spraying lockers and telling the students to wash their hands and stay well.”

There were 24 students absent at Rice Wednesday, which isn’t considered a significant issue, said Lisa Thedford with the Rice Independent School District.

“Twenty-four out in the district is not terribly bad,” she said. “We had a few confirmed cases of the flue, but we’re not overwhelmed with it.”

In Blooming Grove, the attendance has been running around 85-90 percent, according to Superintendent Mike Baldree.

“This time of year, if you’re at 90 percent you feel pretty good,” he said.

On Thursday, the district had 35 students absent out of 900, which is less than 5 percent.

Districts will consider closing if there are too many absences, Baldree explained. Blooming Grove got to that point some years ago, when a veritable tidal wave of a virus had more than 100 kids out of school.

“We had 70 percent attendance and it was compounding,” he said. The virus spread through the campus to other students and teachers alike.

“We were at 64 percent when we finally called it,” Baldree said. “Sometimes, you end up losing so many kids and teachers that you can’t get enough substitutes in the classrooms.”

The decision to call a day off is like the decision to call a snow day, he said. It’s better if a superintendent can talk to the school board beforehand, and have some forewarning of what’s coming.

“You want to take your time,” he said.

Local doctors are inundated with requests, and while it can be difficult to get into see a doctor, if a patient gets in quickly enough, a bout with flu can be lessened. The best time is within 24-48 hours of the onset of symptoms, Saucedo said.

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