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New Jersey public schools are seeing more students out than ususal, and swine flu may be one of the reasons why.

New Jersey Education Department spokeswoman Kathryn Forsyth says there are sporadic reports of above-normal amounts of student absences at schools around the state.

“There have been spikes in absenteeism just one or two days and then it goes back to normal but there’s been nothing that has caused anyone to consider closing schools or any situations like that.”

Forsyth says gastrointestinal and respiratory ailments are responsible for some of the absenteeism and it’s not known just how many students may have been sickened by the H1N1 virus. She says the number of reported student absences is expected to be lower this week because many schools are closed for a fall break and the teachers’ convention in Atlantic City Thursday and Friday.

LOCAL ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS FROM NJ.COM

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