NOTUS, Idaho — An outbreak of influenza is hitting Notus hard this week, prompting the Notus School District to cancel class Thursday.
Both the Notus Jr. Sr. High School and the Notus Elementary School will be closed. A high number of students and staff have already caught the flu, school officials say.
"We will be disinfecting the buildings and allowing students to rest and get well over the weekend," the high school posted on Facebook.
The Notus School District operates on a four-day week, so students are never required to attend class on Fridays.
The junior high boys basketball game against Rimrock has been canceled, although all other highschool games set for Friday and Saturday will continue as planned.
School will resume on Monday, although the district is asking parents to keep their children home if they are still unwell
"We have had a lot of students and staff with this flu bug, please make sure your child is 100% better before sending them back to school," the elementary posted.
The flu is a contagious virus that causes symptoms including fever, chills, cough, a sore throat, aches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea. The illness can range from mild to severe, and can cause potentially life-threatening complications in some people, especially those over 65, very young children, and people with chronic illnesses.
The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot every year. People can also help slow the spread by avoiding close contact with sick people, washing hands regularly, and covering their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze.
