Ill. school closes over flu absences

WATSEKA -- An eastern Illinois high school is closed after 112 of its 330 students called in sick with flu symptoms.

Steve Bianchetta is superintendent of the Unit Nine School District in Iroquois County. He says he had little choice but to close Watseka Community High School on Thursday and Friday with so many students out. Watseka is about 70 miles south of Chicago.

The Public Health Department for Iroquois and neighboring Ford counties says the closing has moved the agency up in priority to receive H1N1 vaccines when the state gets more. Iroquois County has three confirmed swine flu cases.

Many other area schools have high absentee rates this week, too. But most, if not all, remain open.