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Special Section: Questions And Answers About Swine Flu

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St. John's Central Grade School in Bellaire will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a high number of illnesses.

Principal Joe DeGenova said about 30 percent of the student body was out sick with flu-like symptoms on Monday and he wants to take every step to prevent more children from becoming ill. Of 115 students, 15 were out sick last Wednesday and 36 on Monday.

Over the next two days, cleaning crews will disinfect rooms and hallways. DeGenova said classes are expected to resume on Thursday, but he said children who are sick should still stay home from school and have as little contact with others as possible.

The school is the first in the area to cancel classes due to illness. It was not known if the sick students were suffering from swine flu or seasonal flus and colds, because health officials are no longer testing for the H1N1 virus.

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Survey: Do you think schools should close due to illness?

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DeGenova said at this point in the school year, students will not have to make up the two days because the school district has extra days built into the calendar for closures like snow days.

The school closing does not affect the swine flu vaccination clinic for Bellaire St. John Grade School and High School. The clinic will still be held Tuesday at the Belmont County Health Clinic from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The clinic will remain open only to students who have already registered to receive the swine flu vaccine. Parents or guardians must be present at the clinic for students to receive the vaccination.

Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.