October 23, 2009 Grafton High School closes after possible flu outbreak Play video

(NECN: Katie Daly, Grafton, Mass.) - Buses lined up outside of Grafton High School Friday, much earlier than usual. The school was forced to shut down at 11 am after almost half of the staff and students called out sick.

School officials believe it's an outbreak of the H1N1 virus.

Joseph Connors, Superintendent of Grafton schools, says that while many students aren't getting tested there are two confirmed cases of swine flu at the high school. Connors plans to keep the building closed for the next 4 days.

According to the superintendent many students came to school sick last week to attend homecoming events. He believes that's how the illness spread quickly among the student body.

With some students coughing and sneezing, classmates started taking precautions this week.