Staff Writer

The flu bug that swept through the Union County School District seems to be losing strength.

Superintendent Dr. David Eubanks said that earlier this week nearly 700 students or roughly 15 percent of the district's 4,520 students were absent because of the flu. Since then, however, the number has declined to the point where only 400 students were absent Thursday. He said that if this trend continues it is hoped most students will be back in class Monday.

No students were in class today which was a scheduled teacher/staff development day. Eubanks said this could help speed the process of recovery.

“The students are not there, so rather than coming to school and still having the bug and spreading it, they have three days to stay home and recover,” he said. “We hope that it starts to subside even more Monday, but we have to be cautious because this can linger. So if a student is still sick Monday, they should stay at home.”

Eubanks said absence due to sickness is an excused absence meaning the students will be given the opportunity to make up any work they miss.

At one point there were as many as 49 staff members out with the flu, Eubanks said. That number has declined as well and he hopes everyone will be back Monday.