The illness spreads quickly through the classrooms, leaving many students and faculty too sick to attend. Districts have made the difficult decision to temporarily close schools for cleaning and to allow students and staff time to recover.

Godley ISD in North Texas canceled classes this week as hundreds of students and dozens of staff members called out sick with the flu and other illnesses.

A North Texas school district is closing its campuses due to a surge in the seasonal flu. Pictured, Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health Department, gives a flu vaccine during a health and safety fair at Pleasant Grove Christian Church in Dallas in January 2020.