A Mississippi high school is closed for the remainder of the week after an outbreak of an unspecified illness resulted in hundreds of students calling in sick.
West Union Attendance Center, located in Myrtle, saw more than 200 children not able to attend classes on Wednesday morning. By the end of the day, the public high school had released a statement announcing its closure until Monday.
“West Union Attendance Center will be closed on Thursday, January 30, and Friday, January 31, 2025, due to widespread illness among students and staff. This decision has been made to ensure the health and safety of our school. Classes are expected to resume on Monday, February 3, 2025. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Stay safe and take care!” the statement reads, adding make-up dates will be announced at a later time.
According to the latest enrollment numbers, West Union Attendance Center has around 650 students PK-12, meaning nearly a third of the student body was out sick Wednesday.
Union County School District Superintendent Windy Faulkner told WTVA that other schools in the district also reported absences due to illness but not to the extent of West Union.
