Aurora High School to Reopen Monday After Flu Outbreak

A west suburban Aurora high school that closed its campus last week because of an increase in flu cases is scheduled to reopen on Monday.

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 Sullivan Road in Aurora, closed its campus at 5 p.m. Jan. 22 due to the flu outbreak, according to a statement on the school’s website. The school’s buildings were scheduled be “thoroughly cleansed and disinfected” during the closure.

The closure came “as a result of high levels of influenza cases and based on information from the Kane County Health Department and the recommendation of Rush-Copley Medical Center,” according to the statement.

Students were directed to report to their residence halls until parents came to pick them up, according to the school. All students were ordered to leave the campus by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A coach bus was scheduled to leave the school at 10 a.m. Tuesday to drop students off in Bloomington, Springfield and Fairview Heights, school officials said. Residence halls were scheduled to reopen at 3 p.m. Sunday, with classes resuming on Monday morning.

Kane County Health Department spokesman Tom Schlueter said the department has not been notified about any other school closings related to the flu, but that there has been a county-wide uptick this year of influenza-like illnesses and confirmed flu cases.

Despite flu season being in full swing, Schlueter said getting a vaccination can help to prevent the spread of the disease.