GARDNER, MASS. (WHDH) - A Worcester county middle school is taking extra precautions after five students fell ill with the flu as state health officials announced the fourth flu-related pediatric death of the season.
Gardner Public Schools Superintendent Mark Pellegrino alerted the community to the sickness spreading around the school shortly after the Department of Public Health announced the latest pediatric flu-related death.
“This latest pediatric flu-related death underscores the seriousness of influenza and the need for everyone over the age of 6 months to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Larry Madoff, Medical Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts DPH. “Data suggests that we may be past the peak of the flu season, however, it is not over yet.”
Gardner school officials have recently confirmed five cases of the flu.
“Although this is not an epidemic, we are taking precautions by cleaning the building and wiping down frequent-contact items like, chairs, desks, and door knobs.” Pellegrino said. “Additionally, students are being reminded to wash their hands frequently.”
Kelly Perrin’s son is one of the students fighting the flu.
“She tested him for strep first, they start it strep, came back negative,” she explained. “Tested him for flu, type B came back negative, type A came back positive.”
Osvaldo Rodriguez’s took his fifth-grade son to the emergency room when he had a fever spike up to 105 degrees. They discovered he also had the flu.
“It was very concerning, especially because we thought we were all going to get it,” he said. “We didn’t get it at all but he was pretty bad.”
He is now back in school following his recovery.
Some students suffering from a fever were also unable to attend a week-long Nature’s Classroom trip.
“We thank families who are keeping their children home in order to lessen the effects on their peers,” Pellegrino added.
The latest flu-related pediatric death victim has been identified as a teenage boy from Middlesex County.
His name and hometown have not been made public.
The other three cases involved an adolescent male from Worcester County and two female children from Middlesex County. The deaths occurred in January and February.
There was one flu-associated pediatric death in Massachusetts last season.
Health officials are urging the public to stay vigilant about washing their hands and getting vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease.
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