School Surveillance Reports
June 11, 2024
Launch the media gallery 1 playerSouth Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD) takes part in a statewide program to watch and report school absences due to respiratory, stomach, and other illness. This information is submitted weekly to NE Department of Health and Human Services and allows state and local health officials to understand what diseases are affecting our community and to respond more quickly to disease outbreaks in the schools.
SHDHD offers assistance to schools with higher absence rates, providing resources and support for deciding a course of action in dealing with illness in their schools. This could include recommending actions such as increased and stricter cleaning procedures. Sometimes schools opt to close for a short period to interrupt disease transmission. Monitoring school absence rates allows us to share information with the schools, to let them know what illnesses are present in the community, and how best to prepare to keep their students and staff the healthiest they can be for optimal learning. Both instances illustrate the mutually beneficial nature of the relationship between the schools and the health department.