DES MOINES, Iowa — The Polk County Health Department is seeing what they’re calling a significant increase in schools reporting absences due to illnesses.

Fourteen schools in Polk County have reported to the health department sick absence rates greater than 10% for at least one day this month.

Some schools have even reported that 10% or higher for two to three consecutive days, and the Polk County Health Department says these numbers far exceed typical illness rates.

“We know that when we have 10% of more kids out sick at a school, that’s a really good indicator that sickness is probably spreading at a high level within the school. Especially when we see schools reporting this for two or three consecutive days. That really tells us that illness is going around within that school building,” said Addie Olson, the Public Health Communications Officer for the Polk County Health Department.

Olson said there are several illnesses to blame for the surge.

“There’s a whole host of illnesses going around. Norovirus, pneumonia, influenza A, strep throat, and other respiratory illnesses,” she said.

Olson says it’s important that if kids are sick, they stay home from school and do not return until they are 24 hours fever-free without medicine.

“We want parents our caregivers to be able to make informed decisions, and we know that keeping your kids home when they’re sick is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness,” said Olson.

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