More than 475 students in the St. Cloud Area School District reported flu-like symptoms Wednesday. Compare that to last week’s average of about 180 students reporting the flu. Elisabeth Lodge Rogers, Director of Special Services for the school district, says four of the students were so sick, they had to go to the hospital. Rogers says the timing of the four day MEA weekend couldn’t have been better. She hopes students’ will return to class next week with improved symptoms.

The district is prepared to vaccinate students once the vaccine is available. Rogers says in-school vaccine clinics will likely begin around November 9th.