Fighting the Flu

By Erin Jones
Published: February 7, 2008
Updated: January 14, 2009

The Flu virus is becoming a problem for schools in Mississippi. Two children have died from the flu in the past few weeks-- and hundreds of others are home sick with it. In Vicksburg-- 1300 students were out sick Monday. More than 300 students and 21 staff members missed school yesterday in Clinton. It's been so bad there-- the district couldn't find enough substitute teachers to fill classrooms. In the jackson public schools district-- 31 students were absent at mcwillie elementary yesterday.

The flu forces one metro area school to close. Our media partner the Clarion-Ledger reports Mt. Salus Christian School in Clinton has canceled classes for the rest of the week. At least a quarter of the school's 360 students are home sick. Not all students and staff have the flu-- but they do have flu-like symptoms that cause them to miss school. Those symptoms include fever and ear infections.