Wednesday, October 7, 2009

An increasing number of students fighting the flu forces a Western Kansas school district to shut down.

Ness City High School had one-third of their students stay home yesterday with flu-like symptoms. With so many gone, it was beginning to disrupt the learning process.

After discussions with the Ness County Health Department, the district decided to close its doors for two days and reopen on Friday. Community members say they have never seen so many students ill or seen flu season come so early.

"I thought it was awfully early in the year to have kids out for sickness," says Larry Benedict of Ness City. "I didn't think it was supposed to be until maybe November."

The district's superintendent, Randall Jansonius, says there is no reason to believe this sudden outbreak is the H1N1 virus.