Flu Closes N. Texas Schools

Two North Texas schools and an entire school district cancelled classes for the rest of the week thanks to high absences due to the flu.

Collinsville ISD, about 70 miles north of Dallas in Grayson County, is closing its elementary and high school on Thursday and Friday.

LaPoyner ISD in Henderson County will also be closed through Friday due to a high rate of absences. Classes should resume on Monday.

Trinity Christian Academy of Addison and Pantego Christian Academy in Arlington both plan to cancel school until Monday, Oct. 5.

Pantego students had planned to be off on Friday anyway for State Fair of Texas day.

Both schools say "significant" numbers of students have been absent this week with flu-like symptoms.

Five North Texas students have died this month because of swine flu or with links to the H1N1 virus, but there is no indication that either of these schools has the virus.

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LOCAL DEATHS

The swine flu has killed several young people and adults in North Texas -- the most recent being a 16-year-old girl who had serious underlying health problems , and was confined to a wheelchair, officials said.

The Richardson ISD Berkner High School student, who was not formally identified, died on Aug. 26.

One day later, 14-year-old Chloe Lindsey also died from the illness .

The Tarrant County Health Department on Tuesday confirmed the illness killed the Fort Worth ISD Leonard Middle School student.

On Sept. 24 , a 3-year-old Dallas girl who died from the swine flu, according to Dallas County Health and Human Services.

The girl also suffered multiple underlying chronic health conditions, including neurological issues and lung disease, officials said.

On Sep. 12, Cynthia Garcia , an 11-year-old student in Mesquite also succumbed to the illness.

The Vernon Price Elementary 6th grader did not suffer from underlying health problems, but did have pneumonia and a bacterial infection.

On Aug. 29, a 37-year-old man who had an underlying medical condition also died from swine flu, according to the Garland Health Department.