Swine flu hits Fairbanks schools

FAIRBANKS - The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District said more than 200 students have been absent with flu-like symptoms and there are at least 35 confirmed cases of swine flu.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the school district will provide shots to all students and staff when the vaccine arrives.

The district's head nurse, Maureen Kauleinamoku, said a total of more than 1,300 students have complained to school nurses about flu-like symptoms - fatigue, nausea, fever, sore throat, congestion or body aches. The majority were sent home.

She said the flu is unusually early. The typical flu season runs from October to April.