Norway Flu Outbreak: Kindergarten Absence – NRK Nordland

Empty chairs in the classroom and half-full departments in the kindergarten have become the new everyday life in recent weeks.

Influenza infection is spreading throughout the country, but there is still a large difference in incidence between the counties.

In Vollen nature nursery in Bodø, 40 children and seven employees were at home due to stomach virus and flu this week.

– The flu was thrown at us. Suddenly it was only in the nursery with symptoms such as a very high fever, headache and a very poor general condition.

That’s what managing director Kristine Klette-Brunvær says.

Avisa Nordland mentioned the conditions in the kindergarten first.

However, the nursery is not alone in having been affected by illness in recent days.

The infection continues to increase

Infection is increasing in all age groups, but is greatest among school children. Influenza A virus dominates there.

This is shown by recent figures from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI).

– It is important that unvaccinated elderly people, children in risk groups and healthcare personnel with patient contact get vaccinated as soon as possible, the report states.

In the last week, there has been an increase in all counties and the highest incidence of influenza is in Østfold and Akershus, followed by Innlandet and Oslo.

The influenza situation is worsening, with a continued increase in both hospitalizations and deaths.

From week 49 to week 50, the number of admissions associated with influenza rose from 470 to 567.

The number of deaths increased from 17 to 21 in the same period.

– Had a fever of 40 for several days

The infection rate is not only high in the nursery school. This is also the situation at schools.

– I have been ill for a week now. I have had a fever of 40 for several days.

That’s what Elvina Knudsen Votvik says, who is a student at Bodø upper secondary school. The virus has been wreaking havoc there in recent days.

The infection rate is high in many nurseries, schools and workplaces around Nordland.

It is also felt at the emergency room and doctor’s offices in Bodø.

– The demand is increasing

– We see that attendance at both GP offices and emergency rooms is increasing. Many contact for advice. Some also need a physical examination by a doctor, and some of them also need hospitalization.

That’s what Bodø municipal chief physician Ole Fredrik Linnemann Andorsen says.

People have flocked to pharmacies to get the flu vaccine, but many have had to go home empty-handed.

The vaccine cupboards have been empty, and the pharmacies have seen themselves having to order more.

Even with the vaccine, many still get symptoms.

– One then expects a shorter course of illness than those who have not been vaccinated. If you now fall ill with classic flu disease, symptoms, fever, muscle aches, headache, then there is a high probability that the flu virus is the cause.

– A little worried

Several pupils are approaching the absence limit of 10 per cent and now Votvik is afraid of exceeding it.

– I have had a number of absences and am getting a little worried. I have thought a lot about the absence limit lately, says Votvik.

Assistant county director for education and skills in Nordland Runhild Kjeldsaas confirms that several students are worried about reaching the absence limit.

– The pupils are worried and express increased stress about the absence limit, and as I said come to school when they are ill or before they have fully recovered. Which leads to more infection, says Kjeldsaas.

The principal at Bodø upper secondary school, Nina Røvik, has herself been down for the count with a cold.

– It is noticeable a little more than it usually is. At this time, people get sick every year anyway. It’s the time for flu, communicable disease and most of that, says Røvik.

Harald Nedregaard is a student at Bodø VGS and has stayed healthy in recent weeks. He hopes for the longest time that he will stay disease-free during Christmas.