NEILLSVILLE (WAOW) -
The Neillsville Elementary School lunchroom might look a
little less crowded today.
That's because one out every five student in the district
stayed home.
District leaders said the flu is to blame.
"We certainly don't feel blessed by being gifted with this,"
said John Gaier, Neillsville District Administrator.
School officials said both respiratory and stomach flu are
going around, and if a child is showing symptoms, they should stay home.
Still – that many missing students makes an impact.
"Our teachers will keep moving forward with their curriculums,
and we will make sure that kids who do miss have every opportunity to make up
any work that they have missed," said Gaier.
With so many student sick in the Neillsville School
District, people in the community said they're nervous about getting sick.
"I think it's nerve-wracking," said Jessica Koopman of
Loyal.
"We have received a few calls already from parents who have
just decided to keep their kids home as a cautionary measure," said Gaier.
"I think there's a little bit of fear about getting the flu,
more so right now," said Kristin Weiler, Pharmacist at Sniteman's in
Neillsville.
And that fear has prompted many to get flu shots.
Weiler says Sniteman's Pharmacy has seen an increase in
people asking to be vaccinated.
"People that, typically, maybe who wouldn't have gotten the
flu vaccine are coming in because of how severe it's been," said Weiler.
As for the school district, leaders said they're trying to
contain the outbreak.
"We're doing a lot of sanitizing of all hard surfaces that
people may come into contact with. So, we're doing everything we can," said
Gaier.
School officials hope things will return to normal next
week.
