A pair of Prince George’s County Public Schools students attending separate institutions died recently from the flu, PGCPS Superintendent Millard House II told families in a letter.
“Our school communities are feeling the impact of a nationwide rise in flu cases, with increasing numbers across the county and outbreaks in several of our schools. Tragically, we have lost two students. Our hearts are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time,” Mr. House wrote.
Neither of the students was named in the Friday letter. One of them attended John Bayne Elementary School in Capitol Heights, Maryland; the other was at Chesapeake Math & IT Academy North Elementary School in Laurel, a spokesperson told Washington’s WJLA-TV.
The school system called on families to get themselves and their children flu shots and plans to partner with the Prince George’s County Health Department to offer in-school flu shot clinics for students, staff and their families, PCPS posted on social media Friday.
Mr. House also urged families in his letter to keep their children at home if they exhibit flu symptoms such as coughing, fever, body aches and chills.
Inside schools and on buses, PGCPS is cleaning high-contact areas more. It’s also keeping kids in consistent groupings to minimize exposure and the spread of flu, plus plans to impose masking and alter extracurricular activities if flu levels in a school get too high.
