There were patches of flu-like illnesses through the Marshalltown Community School District last month but it appears it was not widespread among students.

Absent student rates rose to about 10 percent in a few schools three weeks ago but those rates are now back to normal, said Marilyn Peasley, health services director with the district.

Jason Staker, communications director with the district, said the attendance rate district wide this week is at 93.5 percent, with most buildings in the 92 to 95 percent rates.

Peasley said recent symptoms reported to nurses at the schools have been stomach aches and headaches but not much with a fever, which is the main indicator of the H1N1 virus.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," she said.

She could not pinpoint those who were out sick weeks ago as having H1N1 as testing is not going on for everyone in the county. She said the dip in attendance lasted about a week.

Several other school districts in the state have been dealing with widespread cases of the flu in recent weeks.

"We have been very fortunate this fall to not have the severe attendance issues that many other schools in Iowa and the nation are experiencing and we hope that continues," Staker said.

Peasley said just because they are back to normal attendance rates now does not mean Marshalltown schools are out of the woods as far as H1N1.

"It will come and go (Marshall County) Public Health tells us," Peasley said.

---

Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com