Flu bug bites district

Deirdre Newman

A nasty flu bug afflicted a sizable number of Newport-Mesa students

before they could escape for spring break this week.

The virus mostly included nausea, vomiting, headaches and fever.

It hit TeWinkle Middle School in Costa Mesa especially hard, said

Michelle Spitaleri, school nurse, adding that it was the worst bug to hit

the school this year.

“It probably has something to do with the students not getting enough

sleep and burning the candle at both ends,” Spitaleri said. “They need to

take care of themselves and get enough rest over the weekends.”

Spitaleri said a lot of students were out sick this week, but she

attributed some of it to early vacations for spring break, which starts

Monday.

The school district receives funding based on average daily

attendance, so lengthy student declines can have a larger and more

lasting effect than just on a teacher’s classroom planning.

Staff at the school have been doing the best they can to deal with the

outbreak and so far have not been affected themselves, Spitaleri said.

“We’re making sure we’re using good hand-washing and tryingto minimize

contact,” Spitaleri said.