MADISON, Ala., May 3 (UPI) -- Elementary schools in Madison, Ala., will be closed up to two weeks because of the swine flu outbreak, officials said Sunday.
Schools Superintendent Dee Fowler said in a statement that while the decision was made to keep the grade schools closed until May 14, health officials could revisit the matter by the end of this week, The Huntsville Times reported.
"It seems to be less severe than first thought, but it is still early," Fowler said in the letter to parents. "I certainly hope that the severity in Madison stays low and that we can get back to our normal schedules soon."
Fowler said health officials had determined the district's secondary schools can go ahead and hold classes beginning Monday.
Three of Alabama's four probable cases of swine flu were detected in Madison's Heritage Elementary School. No cases were found in the district's high schools, the newspaper said.
One suspected case was reported Friday in a student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville's College of Nursing, the newspaper said.
