Northland schools are missing 25 percent of their students as a flu virus sweeps across the region.
The sick pupils - some of whom have been falling asleep in class - have been struck by a virus that has hit Auckland schools hard and is now slowly creeping north.
Symptoms include coughing, high temperatures and splitting headaches.
Otamatea High School at Maungaturoto and Mangawhai Beach School have been hit the hardest, both schools having more 25 percent of students sick in one day.
Otamatea High School principal Haydn Hutching said he had never seen so many students sick at one time.
Students were still struggling to get over their sickness.
About two weeks ago, 121 students out of a total roll of 496 had been sick in one day.
"It was very virulent, it knocked them for a six.
"The kids were coming to school fine and then half an hour later they were down and out," Mr Hutching said.
Mangawhai Beach School principal Neil Robinson said having 75 children sick on Monday out of a roll of 290 was "huge".
Yesterday, 12 pupils from the 21-strong new entrant's class were home sick.
He said that at this time of year he would expect only about 35 students to be sick each day.
"It's quite clear it's something they're getting off one another.
"We're hoping to break the cycle over the long weekend," Mr Robinson said.
Whangarei Primary School acting principal Rob Soarsaid 12 out of 29 students in a year-three and four class were home sick yesterday, while other classes were missing up to six children.
Some students had been falling asleep in class.
The Whangarei school, which with 566 students is one of the biggest primary schools in Northland, has asked parents to make sure their sick children are fully recovered before sending them back to school.
Northland Medical Officer of Health Loek Henneveldtold The Northern Advocate health authorities did not believe a serious outbreak of viral illnesses had occurred.
Instead, media coverage of other similar illnesses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the "bird flu" had taught people the best way to stop a viral illness spreading was to stay at home until fully recovered.
"Generally people are getting the message that it's better to keep children at home until they are better," Mr Henneveld said.
The virus has yet to spread to the Far North.
Kaitaia Primary School assistant principal Cherie Duncan said students had not been hit hard by the flu.
School attendance numbers reflected "pretty much typical (absences) for this time of year".
However, she said she was worried about the virus moving north. In her experience, she said, viruses tended to hit Whangarei first and then travel north.
* How to keep the flue from spreading
* Stay at home until fully recovered.
* Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
* Drink plenty of fluids.
* Rest.
Flu sends quarter of North pupils to their sickbeds
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