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(NewsDakota.com) This year’s cold and flu season hit the Oakes Public School district earlier than usual over the last couple of days.

Superintendent Josh Johnson says the district reported more than 50 students were out due to illness on Monday. That number represents more than 10 percent of the student body; and thus, was reported to the Dickey County Health District and the North Dakota Department of Health. Tuesday and Wednesday’s numbers fell to around 30 students each day.

Johnson says parents were notified via the school’s official app and other forms of communication about the number of absences, as well as a reminder on how to prevent the spread of the flu.