Athens City School Closes Due to Illnesses

About 30 percent of their students are currently out sick.

The Director of Athens City Schools, Robert Greene, says the decision to close was a no brainer.

Greene adds, "Had we had 30 percent system wide we would have closed all week."

Greene says, luckily, the other four city schools haven’t been affected by what’s going around.

Greene adds, "We think some of it’s the flu, but we’re certainly not saying this is all flu. There’s lot of things going on."

Other healthcare leaders are also not quick to blame a flu epidemic for school closings.

Beth Delaney, with the Southeast Regional Health Office, says, "There are illnesses spreading around currently."

But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, all have elevated levels of flu cases.

The problematic strain?

Type A.

Delaney adds, "A flu shot, even if you do manage to get the flu, can make it more mild."

At Athens Middle School, around 160 students stayed home Tuesday and then again on Wednesday.

Whether it’s because of the flu or flu-like symptoms, Greene says, starting Christmas vacation a little earlier will solve the problem for now.

For more information on flu vaccines, contact the CDC.