Within the past month, sickness has spread. The flu or even colds have gone around the school with rapid speed, and the nurse’s office has seen about 6 to 10 students a day.

“The flu tends to sneak up on you,” says Mrs. Beth Broderick, who works in the school health center. “Staying healthy by wearing a coat and dressing for the weather, or even getting the vaccine early, can help.”

In a TIME article, “This Flu Map Shows How The Biggest Influenza Outbreak in Years Spread Throughout The U.S.,” reporter Jamie Ducharme says that every state in the United States is seeing some kind of virus outbreak. It is such a large outbreak that doctors urge people who haven’t yet been vaccinated to be as soon as possible.

Mrs. Broderick also gave some ideas about how to stay cold-free during the rest of the school year, “Wash your hands frequently, avoid contact with sick people, and stay home from school if you have a fever.” By following simple health practices, we can all stay healthy, Wahlert!