Flu Cases on the Rise in the City of Alexandria: How to Stay Healthy

As flu (influenza) season continues, cases of the flu are increasing in the City of Alexandria, leading to a rise in visits to emergency rooms and urgent care centers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Respiratory Illness Data Channel. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) wants to remind families to take precautions to help prevent the spread of illness and keep our students and staff healthy.

Know the Symptoms of the Flu

Flu symptoms can range from mild to severe and often come on suddenly. Common symptoms include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

Preventing the Spread of the Flu and Other Illnesses

To help protect our school community, we ask for your support in following these healthy habits:

• Practice good hand hygiene – Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
• Keep sick students and staff home – If your child is experiencing flu symptoms, they should stay home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are improving.
• Vaccination is still an option – It is not too late to get a flu shot, updated COVID-19 or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for additional protection. Vaccines are recommended for everyone six months and older.
• Consider additional prevention strategies – Wearing masks, distancing when indoors, and testing for illnesses can help reduce the spread of flu and other respiratory viruses.

Where to Get Test Kits

If you need COVID-19 test kits, free antigen tests are available at all City of Alexandria libraries. Many pharmacies in the area also offer COVID-19 and flu test kits for purchase.

Additional Information

If you have concerns about your symptoms or if your condition worsens, please contact a medical professional for further guidance.

For more information on flu prevention and resources, visit the Alexandria Health Department website at alexandriava.gov/flu or call 703-746-4988.