Coughs, Sneezes, and Sick Days: What’s Going Around in Williston ND?

As I sit here writing this, I can’t help but wonder—when will I finally get hit with the crud? So far this season, I’ve somehow dodged every sneeze, cough, and feverish handshake. But judging by the sniffles echoing through the grocery store and the hacking coughs in public spaces, my luck might be running out.

Get our free mobile app

Even Williston Basin School District #7 has put out an official Health Notice, which basically confirms what we already suspected—illness is running rampant. If you’ve got a kid in school, you’ve probably already had a front-row seat to the germ fest. The district advises keeping students home if they have symptoms of Influenza A, Influenza B, COVID-19, Strep Throat, or Norovirus. Basically, if your child is suddenly acting like a character from a cold medicine commercial, it’s best to keep them home.

The common symptoms? Fever, body aches, headaches, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Sounds like a party, right? And not the fun kind.

So, how do we avoid this wave of sickness? The experts (and common sense) recommend:

• Washing hands like you’re about to perform surgery
• Covering coughs and sneezes—please, for the love of all that is sanitary
• Avoiding sharing drinks, snacks, or anything else that might transfer germs
• Getting the flu vaccine (because science is cool)

If you need more details, check out all the information here. In the meantime, I’ll be over here dodging germs like an Olympic athlete—at least until my luck runs out.

Remember, wash those hands, cover those coughs, and if you're sick, stay home!