Southgate School Closed Over Flu Concerns

SOUTHGATE (WWJ) - A Southgate school is closed Monday after the flu, or concerns about the flu, resulted in more than 180 students missing class.

Cleaning crews spent the weekend sanitizing Allen Elementary School. Interim superintendent Nancy Nagle said a few students were sick last week, only to have the problem mushroom.

"We had seven kids that went home on Thursday with the flu symptoms -- throwing up and whatever," said Nagle. "And than Friday we had a flood of calls from parents, you know, because of all of the social media and the hysteria that that is causing."

"Some kept their kids home as a precaution and then some because their children were ill," she said.

Nagle said crews spent the weekend sanitizing the school and then did so again Monday to ease parents' fears.

"They were re-sanitizing everything that was already sanitized on Friday," Nagle said. "It seems to be a 12 to 36-hour, at the most, nanovirus. Our nurse did report it to the health department."

Nagle said to help stop the spread of germs they're asking students to leave cell phones, music players and other gadgets in their lockers or at home, unless prior arrangements have been made with the teacher.

The school is expected to reopen Tuesday.