About 1,000 students at a large Virginia high school were absent this week with a flu-like illness.
The widespread sickness at Stafford High School outside of Washington, DC, prompted the school to cancel all weekend activities and athletics, according to a Friday posting on its Facebook page.
“Due to the high number of student and staff illnesses reported this week, all Stafford High School activities and athletics scheduled through Sunday, October 23, are canceled,” the post read.
“We will reassess conditions on Monday and provide you with further information.”
The mysterious illness had affected about half the school’s student body. Just over 2,000 teens were enrolled at Stafford High School, near Fredericksburg, Va., according to US News and World Report.
A spokesperson told WRC-TV students and teachers were suffering from flu-like and gastrointestinal symptoms, and state health officials were working to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Health officials have urged Americans not to skip their flu shots this season, warning the virus may be resurgent this year after its spread reached historic lows during the COVID-19 pandemic.