Flu closes Columbia private school for 2 days

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A private school in Columbia has been closed for two days as administrators try to slow down a flu outbreak.

Hammond School Headmaster Chris Angel told local media outlets that the private school canceled classes for about 330 students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade on Wednesday and Thursday.

Staffers are disinfecting the school, while teachers have assigned work to students who aren’t sick.

Angel wouldn’t say exactly how many students have come down with the flu, but he says it was enough so state health officials recommended closing the school. The flu has about a two-day incubation period.

Hammond kept its middle and high schools open because the flu hasn’t hit them as badly.

Health officials say it appears the flu is spreading across South Carolina much quicker than usual.