Middle School of the Kennebunks, Marshwood High hit with flu, RSV and COVID

Shawn P. Sullivan, Portsmouth Herald
·3 min read

KENNEBUNK, Maine — The Maine Center for Disease Control is working with RSU 21 to determine if a current high rate of absenteeism at the Middle School of the Kennebunks is the result of an outbreak of viruses.

According to RSU 21 Superintendent of Schools Terri Cooper, the middle school reached an absentee rate this week of between 16.7% and 17.9%. The state’s education department requires school districts to report any levels exceeding 15%.

The CDC is reaching out to the middle school to get more information and determine if an outbreak there has occurred, the district said in a news release on Wednesday.

“Our current absenteeism levels reflect high incidence of respiratory illness and isolated cases of influenza and COVID-19,” Cooper said. “As of Tuesday, there were four confirmed cases of influenza type A and two confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Maine Department of Education will monitor our data and continue to advise us.”

The Maine Center for Disease Control is working with RSU 21 to determine if a current high rate of absenteeism at the Middle School of the Kennebunks is the result of an outbreak of a disease.
The Maine Center for Disease Control is working with RSU 21 to determine if a current high rate of absenteeism at the Middle School of the Kennebunks is the result of an outbreak of a disease.

Cooper added that the CDC has not advised closing the middle school at this time.

On Wednesday, RSU 21 Media Specialist David Singer said no other school nurses within the district have reported absentee statistics approaching the 15% threshold at their schools. Details about whether the absentee rate at the middle school pertained only to students or also included staff members were not immediately available early Wednesday afternoon.

More:Doctors warn flu season is 'fierce' and is getting worse. Here's what to know.

In her press release, Cooper asked that parents and guardians not send their child to school if they are showing any symptoms of illness. Cooper also asked that parents and guardians share details of symptoms and any positive or negative test results when calling their child out of school.

“We ask parents to test symptomatic children every 24 hours,” Cooper said.

Anyone who has any questions is encouraged to email the middle school nurse at amurphy@rsu21.net.

Cooper said staff at the middle school are increasing the sanitizing of surfaces and will provide students with hand sanitizer to use during class as well as before and after eating.

Cooper asked that students and staff cough into their elbows. She reported that the Maine CDC has advised that washing hands and wearing masks “are the most effective ways to mitigate the spread of germs.”

The Middle School of the Kennebunks is not alone.

Marshwood High School is reporting a high number of absences with students becoming ill with influenza-like illness. MSAD 35 Superintendent John Caverly sent home a letter Wednesday, Dec. 7, informing parents that 15% of students and staff were out for flu-related symptoms, reaching the threshold to be considered an outbreak.

Bangor Daily News reported this week that two schools in Belfast – the Troy Howard Middle School and the Capt. Albert Stevens Elementary School – have also reported outbreaks.

In its latest report of influenza cases, the CDC stated on Tuesday there are currently 21 outbreaks throughout the state.

A total of 63 people are currently hospitalized with the illness, according to the CDC. Six of those individuals are in York County.

The CDC characterized the trend of flu cases in York County as a “sustained increase” and noted that the severity estimate is low.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Middle School of the Kennebunks in Maine hit with flu, RSV and COVID