There have been enough sick students in the Fort Dodge Community School District to prompt school nurses to urge parents to keep ill children home.

Health care professionals say the current round of sicknesses is a seasonal situation that is consistent with statewide trends.

“We have been seeing a lot of illness around the community,” said Ann Feser, medical director of the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge. “I think it’s a seasonal type thing.”

She said the variety of illnesses seen at the Health Center include rhinovirus, influenza, COVID and norovirus.

“We are seeing illnesses consistent with the current trends throughout Iowa, including moderate to high levels of RSV, influenza and COVID,” said Dr. Dustin Smith, medical director for UnityPoint Clinic Express — Fort Dodge and associate medical director of UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge.

In a text to parents, Fort Dodge Community School District nurses advised keeping students home if they are experiencing:

• Fever

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Persistent cough

• Sore throat

• Difficulty breathing

• Body aches, chills or fatigue

Children should remain home until they are symptom free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medicines, according to the message sent to parents.