Triton students, families, and faculty are experiencing a range of respiratory viruses as sickness has struck the majority of the school. After homecoming festivities and thanksgiving with family and friends, Many students are experiencing horrible viruses and respiratory diseases that may have come from being in close proximity to each other. Covid, RSV, and the flu are the driving sickness affecting the entire school, according to administrators.

Julie Scarfo, the secretary in charge of attendance for Triton Regional High School, noticed an absurd amount of people out from school last week. “ Normally I have one page, and Monday I had four pages (absent sheets),” said Scarfo. “I have been getting a lot of calls from parents”

Friends and families have been experiencing symptoms such as coughing, high fevers, runny noses, headaches, and tiredness. Last Monday there were over 100 students absent from school; that’s over 20% of the school out from these viruses. Many teachers are shocked to find huge swaths of students missing from their academic classrooms. Triton junior, Molly Porter-Crean, just experienced firsthand what this “mystery illness” is like.
“ I do not know what I had but I tested for covid five times,” Porter-Crean said “It was probably the worst sickness I have ever had, it was very painful (and) I could not move. I had a fever of 103 for around four days”

Nadine Marcheterre, the head nurse for Triton, Is experiencing a huge overflow of sick students. When I asked Marcheterre if she was getting overwhelmed she said “ Absolutely! It’s worse now than it was at the peak of covid.” Marcheterrre recommended that students and staff wash their hands and get tested for Covid-19.
She stated that it was important to STAY HOME if sick, or feeling unwell. Marcheterre said the leading sickness was “Covid is number one, flu is number two, strep is number three, and then there is a funky gastric intestinal vomit-virus which might be in conjunction with the flu. Some people are getting flu and covid or covid and strep, there is a combination of all these things. Also In the younger kids, there is a sickness called RSV”

Covid
How to prevent it→
Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines
Improving Ventilation and Spending Time Outdoors
Getting Tested for COVID-19 If Needed
Avoiding Contact with People Who Have Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
Wearing Masks or Respirators
Increasing Space and Distance

Symptoms→Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea.

Flu

How to prevent it→, Avoid close contact. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your mouth and nose. Clean your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Practice other good health habits.

Symptoms→fever* or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches
fatigue (tiredness), some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
RSV
How to prevent it→Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils, with others
Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices

Symptoms→Runny nose, Decrease in appetite, Coughing, Sneezing, Fever, Wheezing

Sources: All info from the CDC: Coronavirus1, Coronavirus2, flu1, flu2, RSV 1, RSV 2