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First Flu "Outbreak" Closes School Down

Friday, Oct 23, 2009 | Updated 3:19 PM EST

Swine flu is just getting started, so one school district is closing up a school.

Nearly half of Guilford High School students were out sick Friday, prompting the school to close down entirely Monday and Tuesday. The school district cites the "increasing spread of flu-like illness".

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the state Education Department has declared this the first "outbreak" of flu-like symptoms at a public school this year.

As many as 30 percent of the student body was out sick Thursday, and that number climbed to 42.5 percent on Friday.

All activities at schools before or after class hours, including evening activities, have all be postponed through this Sunday, October 23.

Students and staff have been encouraged to avoid group gatherings.

Elementary and Middle Schools have not been impacted by the same numbers of ill students.

Education spokesman Thomas Murphy also says Brooklyn Elementary School in Brooklyn is the only other school in the state reporting increased absences because of swine flu-like symptoms.