More than 20 Maine schools hit hard by swine flu

November 5, 2009

BANGOR, Maine --Maine health officials say more than 20 schools across the state are reporting absentee rates of more than 15 percent because of the H1N1 swine flu.

Officials say affected schools are in all corners of Maine.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills of the Maine Centers for Disease Control says the flu is spreading fast.

Old Town School Superintendent David Walker says one district school is reporting 24 percent of its students are out.

Walker tells the Bangor Daily News officials are seeing what he calls "some level of fear," which is prompting some parents to keep their healthy children home.

Mills says many schools are hosting immunization clinics, although demand for the vaccine is still greater than the supply.