How West Michigan school districts are handling a busy flu season

PORTAGE, Mich. — Flu season is hitting West Michigan hard, especially in schools.
Moorsbridge Elementary in Portage closed on Thursday, Feb. 12 due to a multiple-day stretch of illness.
The Kalamazoo County Health Department told News Channel 3 they’re seeing more cases of the flu than last year.
“The drier air, the colder air, definitely creates an environment where these virus particles can spread through the air a lot easier from person to person,” Matt Johnson, health department public information officer, said.

Comstock Public Schools has also been hit hard, according to Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Thoenes.
Dr. Thoenes said one in five students has missed time due to being sick, and 96 out of 650 students were out sick from the elementary school on Thursday.
“Typically, our daily absence rate is lower 90s, in terms of attendance,” Dr. Thoenes said. “So, lower 90s to mid 90s. So, when you dip into the 80s and then go low 80s, that is atypical. That’s what we’re experiencing now.”