How long should a sick student or staff member be kept home with the flu?

Students and staff with symptoms of flu should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not feel feverish, without using fever-reducing drugs.  

Sick people should stay at home, except to go to the doctor’s office, and should avoid contact with others. Keeping people with a fever at home may reduce the number of people who get infected. Because high temperatures are linked with higher amounts of virus, people with a fever may be more contagious.

If flu conditions become more severe, CDC recommends that a sick person stay home for 7 days. A person who is still sick after 7 days should stay home until 24 hours after the symptoms have gone away.  In addition, this longer period should be used in health care settings and in any place where a high number of high-risk people may be exposed, such as childcare facilities for children less than 5 years of age.

Last Updated: 08/07/2009

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