An outbreak of a flu-like illness is severely affecting schools on the Taieri and some have reported up to a third of pupils absent.
East Taieri School has been particularly hard hit. About 100 of its 310 pupils were absent with illness yesterday, along with five staff.
Principal Jennifer Horgan said she had not seen absenteeism like it before.
''It's never been this bad. It's the highest number we've ever seen,'' she said.
The unusually high number has resulted in the postponement of today's combined Silverstream, Elmgrove and East Taieri schools cross-country.
Otago Primary Principals' Association chairwoman and Silverstream School principal Elizabeth Cleverley said 60 of her 280 pupils (21%) were absent yesterday.
''I think today has been a record number,'' she said.
The bout of illness first appeared in the middle of last week and had continued to affect a growing number of children.
''Children are coming in coughing and saying that they're hot, so office staff have been ringing the parents and sending them home,'' Mrs Horgan said.
The flu-like symptoms include coughing, a high temperature, headache and sore throat, with some cases of vomiting.
''Parents have been saying it lasts four or five days, so it's not just an overnight thing.''
Schools are advising parents to keep their children at home if they show any signs of sickness.
Mrs Horgan said public health nurses had visited East Taieri School to provide information about hygiene and infection prevention.
''They've been into every class and talked about keeping healthy during the winter, making sure the kids cough into their elbow and wash their hands.''
the illness had come at a busy time of year, with teachers attempting to organise parent-teacher interviews.
Green Island School principal Steve Hayward said 10% of enrolled pupils had been absent from his school over the past week.
''One of the best things parents can do is to keep their children at home, so it prevents the spreading of their sickness to other pupils and staff members,'' he said.
Absences at Taieri College have been relatively low, and the problem appears to be isolated to primary schools on the Taieri.
The Otago-Southland medical officer of health, Dr Marion Poore, said that the high incidence of illness on the Taieri was not of concern, and it was common for illness to increase around this time of year.
Dunedin schools had not reported significant illness.
St Clair School principal Richard Newton said ''over the hill is a good place to be''.
- Erin Speedy and Charlotte Haselden
