COLUMBUS -- Thanksgiving Day is a time for sharing family memories, not the germs that serve up the vomiting, coughing and runny noses that accompany stomach viruses, flu and whooping cough.
“We’ve really seen cases of gastrointestinal viruses spreading through the schools and workplaces,’’ said Rebecca Rayman, executive director of the East Central District Health Department.
“Cases have been popping up all over the community,” Rayman said this morning. “It’s a nasty little bug.”
Health officials say traveling people mean traveling germs and everyone should be watching for symptoms of stomach viruses, the flu and whooping cough with Thanksgiving approaching.
A spike in stomach virus illnesses has been noticed by nurses at the Columbus Public Schools. The nurses reported that cases seemed to crest at the middle and elementary schools earlier this month, while cases at the high school were climbing this week.
The high school nurse said 11 students were in her office this morning complaining of not feeling well.
“People should stay home at Thanksgiving if they’re not feeling well,” Rayman said. “The lasting effects of a stomach virus don’t make for happy family memories.”
Meanwhile, local cases of respiratory flu and whooping cough have not been gaining momentum.
Flu usually begins in October and runs through March. The worst months are usually mid-January to early March. Cases of the highly contagious whooping cough have been confirmed across the state in the last several weeks.
Both illnesses are spread primarily by coughing and sneezing.
Early symptoms of whooping cough, also known as pertussis (per-TUH-sis), include sinus congestion, runny nose, a slight sore throat and possible low-grade fever. It can progress into violent coughing spells that can last for weeks.
Rayman credits an effective flu shot this year and hundreds of tetanus-whooping cough vaccinations given by health officials in the last few years as reasons for fewer local cases of the illnesses.
This is the time for people to get their flu shots, said Rayman, noting that a vaccination, hand washing and using sanitizers are the best ways to prevent the illness.
The four-county health district has given about 750 tetanus-whooping cough shots while responding to four area floods this year alone, Rayman said. “We’ve had one case of pertussis in the district this year.’’
There were 156 pertussis cases throughout the state through Nov. 9, according to the health district, with 18 people hospitalized and one death from the illness.
The health district offers the following tips for avoiding illness and enjoying the upcoming holiday:
• Get a flu shot.
• If you are in a high risk group (pregnant, infant or anyone with a chronic condition like asthma, diabetes, heart disease or you are over 65 years old) it is especially important to get your vaccine. Children under 5 are the most likely to be hospitalized by influenza this is followed by seniors.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth during the day. Influenza germs can live on door knobs and telephones and be transferred to you when you touch contaminated objects and then touch your face.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use it frequently.
• Stay away from people who you know are sick.
• Be a good community member. Do not go to work if you are sick, do not send your kids to school when they are sick.
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