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‘Hopefully this will run its course;’ Local high school closed today due to flu outbreak

By WHIO Staff and Xavier Hershovitz
By WHIO Staff and Xavier Hershovitz

FAIRBORN — A local high school is closed today due to a flu outbreak.

>>PHOTOS: Local high school closed today due to major flu outbreak

Classes at Fairborn High School are canceled for today and all weekend activities will also not take place, the school district announced on social media Thursday.

News Center 7′s Xavier Hershovitz reported from Fairborn High School Friday morning during News Center 7′s Daybreak.

>>ORIGINAL COVERAGE: ‘Very unusual;’ Local high school to close tomorrow due to major flu outbreak

Gene Lolli, Fairborn City School District Superintendent, told News Center 7 on Thursday a third of their students were out Thursday. He said the flu is hitting the school hard.

He added that 20 staff members were also out on Thursday, and this was a major flu outbreak.

Lolli said after speaking with the Greene County Health Department, they decided it was best to close for the day and have a three-day weekend.

“I would highly recommend that parents monitor their kids, and anybody showing flu-like symptoms to make sure they take the appropriate medication to try and keep temperatures down,” he said. “And if it’s serious enough to contact their physician or take them to the emergency room.”

There are also some cases of Covid-19.

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Hershovitz checked the latest flu numbers from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). They show that while flu activity is low, outpatient visits have increased nearly 20% from the previous hospitalizations are up 20%.

Lolli told News Center 7 that it is “unusual” to have this many students out at once.

“It’s the first time for me in my career as an administrator to deal with something like this,” he added. “But again, the safety of all staff and students is first and foremost. And we want to make sure that we do everything we can to let this run its course and get healthy get everyone healthy and back into school.”

The closure will only affect Fairborn High School, all other Fairborn schools are set to operate as normal.

Lolli says the plan is to reopen on Monday.

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Fairborn High School Photo from: Brandon Lewis/Staff

Fairborn High School (only Fairborn High School) will be closed on Friday, December 8, 2023 due to student and staff illness. All weekend activities are also cancelled (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

Posted by Fairborn City Schools on Thursday, December 7, 2023

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