Alberta Health Services (AHS) has put a notice of a respiratory illness outbreak at Ecole Rocky Elementary.

Officials say this is due to a large number of students sick with respiratory symptoms. Respiratory illness symptoms include, cough shortness of breath, sore throat, loss or altered taste/smell, runny nose/nasal congestion, fever and may also include fatigue (significant and unusual) muscle ache/joint pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

AHS notes the germs that cause respiratory illness can easily be spread from one student to another through coughing and secretions from the nose and mouth. To help reduce the spread of respiratory illness AHS recommends students:

• Regularly clean their hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cough and sneeze into their sleeves or cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing and sneezing.
• Throw away used tissues immediately after sneezing, coughing or wiping their noses and then clean their hands.

According to AHS, wearing a well-fitting, high-quality mask can help reduce the risk of becoming sick and protect others from being exposed. Students will be supported regardless of their choice to mask or not.

AHS says for influenza and COVID-19, immunization is an important step in protecting yourself and those around you. Make the choice to stay up to date on all your families’ immunizations. Information on booking an appointment for yourself or your children can be found here. Students who are ill with respiratory symptoms should stay home from school until their symptoms improve, they have not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of reducing medication, and they feel well enough to resume to their regular activities.

For children who develop respiratory illness, mild symptoms can usually be managed at home and most children recover without special treatment. Home management includes getting extra rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Parents can visit AHS Health, Education and Learning (HEAL) website for advice from Alberta Pediatric Emergency Medicine experts on managing specific symptoms and for guidance on when to seek medical care.

Parents with any questions are asked to contact Health Link Alberta toll free at 811.